Alaska Supreme Court restores Dan J. Sullivan to U.S. Senate ballot amid sham‑candidate dispute

Dan J. Sullivan, a retired elementary and middle‑school teacher from Petersburg, Alaska, is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan. Because the two candidates share the same name and party affiliation, GOP officials accused Dan J. Sullivan of being a sham candidate intended to confuse voters and aid Democrat Mary Peltola. A state elections official initially removed him from the August primary ballot, but the Alaska Supreme Court later ordered that he be reinstated, allowing him to compete for one of the four spots that advance to the November ranked‑choice general election.

Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced an investigation into Sullivan’s campaign after a National Republican Senatorial Committee lawyer alleged that Sullivan coordinated with a Democratic‑linked consultant to manipulate the race. Local residents expressed mixed reactions, with some defending his eligibility and character while others remain uncertain about his impact on the race. The case highlights ongoing tensions over ballot access and election integrity in a contest that could influence control of the Senate.