JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska’s top elections official has threatened to disqualify a candidate for U.S. Senate who shares the same name and party affiliation as incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan, according to a letter published Wednesday by the Anchorage Daily News.
Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher wrote to the challenger, also named Dan Sullivan, that her office had received two complaints about his eligibility and had determined “that the preponderance of evidence does not support your eligibility for the office of United States Senator.” She gave the challenger a Thursday deadline to submit “any additional information and evidence” in response.
The challenger did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Beecher’s letter did not detail the evidence her office had reviewed, and she did not respond to requests for additional comment.
Beecher is a registered Republican who in the past has donated to Republican groups and campaigns, according to state campaign finance records. The Alaska Division of Elections is part of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
The two Dan Sullivans — one the two-term incumbent, the other a private citizen who filed to run — created an unusual ballot scenario. Under Alaska’s open primary system, the top four vote-getters advance to the general election, and the challenger’s potential disqualification could narrow the field.
The incumbent Dan Sullivan, who took office in 2015, faces a competitive race. Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola has entered the contest, and Republican Nancy Dahlstrom is also among the candidates. The primary is scheduled for August.
Beecher’s letter was dated Wednesday and came after two complaints were filed challenging the challenger’s eligibility. State law requires candidates to meet certain residency and registration requirements to appear on the ballot. The election director’s determination of ineligibility, if finalized, would remove the challenger from the primary ballot unless a court intervenes.