Alaska’s leading election official announced on Monday that a Senate candidate sharing the same last name as Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is not eligible to be on the primary ballot this August.
Carol Beecher, the Director of Elections, communicated to Dan J. Sullivan that his application for candidacy was more of an attempt to confuse voters rather than a legitimate effort to run for office. This situation has led to speculations that supporters of former Alaska Democratic Representative Mary Peltola might be behind this move to sway the election in favor of Peltola.
“Upon reviewing the complaint and other relevant information, I conclude that your declaration of candidacy was not properly filed. It appears it was intended to mislead or confuse voters, compromising the fairness of the election,” Beecher stated.
Beecher had initially indicated, earlier in the week, that the other Sullivan would be considered ineligible but allowed him to present his case before a final decision was made.
“Our review of the evidence shows that it does not support your candidacy for the Senate,” Beecher noted on Wednesday.
A press release announcing Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy was written by Democratic strategist Amber Lee, as discovered from campaign data. It’s interesting to note that while Lee has previously supported Peltola, she expressed confidence back in January about Peltola’s chances against Sullivan. In March, she also mentioned aspirations for Peltola to run for governor in 2025, citing concerns over the impact of the Trump administration on the state.
Peltola’s campaign clarified on June 3 that they had no ties to the other Sullivan’s candidacy.
In a letter, the National Republican Senatorial Committee argued for his removal from the ballot, emphasizing the need for election integrity.
A spokesperson for Sullivan’s campaign accused Peltola and fellow Democrats of employing “dishonest tactics” to trick Alaskan voters.
This other Sullivan, who declared his candidacy for the Senate as a Republican, had previously donated $650 to various Democrats, including Peltola and another unsuccessful left-wing candidate. Interestingly, Peltola visited Petersburg, where this other Sullivan is from, just days before he filed to run, raising more eyebrows.
Even though Alaska is predominantly a Republican state, Democrats are optimistic about their chances, especially with the state’s ranked-choice voting system in place. As recently indicated, Peltola has a 68% probability of winning against Sullivan, based on current odds. Recent polls show Peltola ahead with 49% compared to Sullivan’s 44%.
