Alaska election officials bar duplicate‑name challenger from Senate primary

Alaska Division of Elections announced a preliminary ruling that Dan J. Sullivan, a resident of Petersburg, is ineligible for the August 2026 U.S. Senate primary. Officials said the “preponderance of evidence does not support” his eligibility because his name and campaign branding closely mimic incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, raising the risk of voter confusion under the state’s ranked‑choice voting system.

The decision follows complaints filed by the Alaska Republican Party and a letter from Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom ordering an investigation into the challenger’s party affiliation and alleged coordination with Democratic campaign consultants. The challenger has declined to provide a sworn affidavit, while the ACLU of Alaska and former Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth have warned the probe could impinge on free‑speech rights. He has until the deadline to submit additional evidence before a final determination is made.