A Republican candidate named Dan Sullivan who\u2019s challenging GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan for a Senate seat in Alaska has been deemed ineligible for this year\u2019s primary by a top state elections official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a letter Monday, Alaska\u2019s Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher told the challenger that his candidacy \u201cwas not filed in good faith for the purpose of genuinely pursuing election as Alaska\u2019s U.S. Senator.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beecher added that his declaration to run for the office was \u201cfiled with a purpose to confuse or mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot\u2019s fairness or neutrality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Division of Elections received two complaints from the chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, Beecher said, about Sullivan\u2019s eligibility to run for senator. She said she gave the candidate until the evening of June 11 to respond to the complaints and defend himself but did not receive additional information or evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beecher went on to say that Sullivan had requested ballot access under the name \u201cDan Sullivan\u201d even though he\u2019s only registered to vote under the name \u201cDaniel J. Sullivan, Jr.\u201d She said that the move suggested he was seeking to create confusion \u201cwith another candidate in the race, the incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, rather than distinguish yourself from him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIndeed, you yourself appeared to be confused when you initially emailed the Division asking to be listed on the ballot as \u2018Dan S. Sullivan,\u2019\u201d she added. \u201c\u2018S\u2019 is Senator Sullivan\u2019s middle initial, not yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also said that election records show he had never been affiliated with the Republican Party until two days before he declared his candidacy for senator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beecher also noted that his campaign website uses a format and color scheme very similar to the site belonging to the senator and that he has admitted working with a political consultant who\u2019s \u201ca known longtime supporter of Democratic candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The campaign for the disqualified Sullivan didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment. In a Facebook post Sunday, he wrote: \u201cShould every American be allowed to run for any political office if they are qualified? Should a candidate\u2019s chances of winning an election disqualify them from trying? Should a person\u2019s given name be a qualifier to be on a ballot? To me it\u2019s not complicated. I met the qualification and I entered this race because I am unhappy with the 12 year record of the current Senator and I feel we need a change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has 30 days to appeal the decision, though ballots are being printed June 28, Beecher said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. Sullivan\u2019s re-election campaign celebrated his challenger\u2019s disqualification in a statement Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery Alaskan has the right to a free and fair election, free from deception and gamesmanship,\u201d said campaign manager Bill Mackey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. Sullivan this month accused his main Democratic opponent in Alaska, Mary Peltola, and Democrats in Washington of recruiting the other Sullivan. A spokesperson for Peltola\u2019s campaign, Harry Child, denied earlier this month that the campaign was involved \u201cwith either Sullivan campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afterward, Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom notified the other Sullivan\u2019s campaign that the state had opened an investigation into his candidacy. The lieutenant governor\u2019s office oversees the Division of Elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his statement about the Sullivan disqualification, Mackey thanked Dahlstrom for \u201censuring Alaskans can choose their next senator without a sham candidate whose primary purpose was to confuse Alaskan voters, treat Alaskans with contempt, and rig the election for Peltola.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alaska operates under a ranked-choice voting system in which the top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November general election. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n