Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska's primary ballot, judge rules

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 1:18 AM EDT, June 27, 2026


JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled Friday.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to disqualify the challenger and keep him off the primary ballot. Matthews’ ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court. Attorneys for the state have said Tuesday is the deadline for a final ruling so that ballots for the Aug. 18 primary can be printed.

The judge ruled that the Division’s decision to exclude Dan J. Sullivan because his candidacy was not “in good faith” was not based on the Constitution, Alaska law or the Division’s own regulations. The retired teacher from the small fishing community of Petersburg filed to challenge the incumbent. “Instead, the decision was based upon a new, previously unstated, ‘good faith’ criteria,” the judge wrote.

Attorneys for the state did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday’s ruling. Jeffrey Robertson, Dan J. Sullivan’s attorney, said in an email he expects the Division to appeal the ruling and couldn’t comment until the Alaska Supreme Court rules on the case.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-senate-dan-sullivan-primary-ballot-01906fdc5d1eadf2e9b69c98baf1ec9a

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143673890
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143675687
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143676351
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143678247
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143679874

[AZLD4Candidate]

1. Seems like the Republiturds in Alaska have a "Distingushed Gentleman" issue they can do nothing about

What is Dan Sullivan supposed to do, change his name to placate Dan Sullivan? Does Dan Sullivan believe he has a trademark on the name Dan Sullivan? What it Dan Sullivan tells Dan Sullivan to stick it? Can Dan Sullivan legally keep Dan Sullivan off the ticket because when he was born, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan named him Daniel not knowing, at the time, that Dan Sullivan would become one of Alaska's US Senators?

I mean, how absurd the argument. From now on, the first names of US Senators are only for those people so long as you have the same last name as the Senator?

Republitards are scared and desperate these days.

[erronis]

2. The word "disarray" comes to mind, again.

[Icanthinkformyself]

3. Republicans do this to the Democrats all the time.

Running candidates with the same name as the Democratic candidate is not unusual for the cheaters, er Republicans. They have no compunction to cheating and stealing. They do it all the time. They cheat to get elected and steal seats. They cheat to pass legislation that makes the rich richer, the rest of us poorer and lines their own pockets. They cheat at business ripping off clients and customers running scams and schemes, grifting and graft. They cheat when filing their tax returns making the rest of us who don't cheat pay more. They will cheat in any and all situations as they have no valid arguments that are reasonable or make sense. They have to cheat to stay on top. Time to topple the Ponzi Scheme pyramid of Vulture Capitalism, Republicans and conservatives of all parties. I don't trust conservatives in any situation or circumstance. They are primarily bullies or bullied into submission.

[Igel]

6. Haven't heard that claim before.

That "Running candidates with the same name as the Democratic candidate is not unusual...". Have an example?

[BumRushDaShow]

8. I expect that happens in the lower level races

at the state, County and municipal level. The issue in Alaska is the ranked choice system that could impact their rank.

But in a straight primary, there have been candidates with the same name that could boggle GOP voters and was a parallel to what is happening in AK. Found an example -

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/400859-ron-estes-defeats-opponent-also-named-ron-estes-in-gop-primary/

Alternately, the GOP candidate won't designate their party affiliation anywhere in their ads, mailers or other campaign materials to obfuscate that they are a Republican, which is a common tactic.

What seems to be happening recently is this sort of thing -

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/politics/local-politics/ghost-candidate-says-he-was-offered-50k-to-run-for-office/3423228/

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/03/24/nebraska-dem-senate-candidate-burbank-paid-third-party-candidates-filing-fee/

[Igel]

9. Thanks. n/t

[question everything]

4. One of them has to add a middle name. Even if has one. Some have several

[ratchiweenie]

5. Or one of them could use Daniel Sullivan.

[question everything]

7. True