Ballot Confusion in Alaska Senate Race

Alaska’s elections director decided Monday that Dan J. Sullivan must be removed from the U.S. Senate race ballot. This decision is open to appeal in state court.

Originally, Alaska’s ballot featured two candidates named Dan Sullivan, one of whom is the incumbent Republican senator, Dan S. Sullivan. Dan J. Sullivan, a former teacher and also a Republican, faced accusations of attempting to confuse voters to affect the electoral outcome against the incumbent. There were claims that this confusion could benefit Democratic candidate Mary Peltola.

Dan J. Sullivan and Ms. Peltola have both denied any strategic coordination. Dan J. Sullivan insists his candidacy is genuine. However, Republican officials overseeing the election had doubts.

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom initiated an investigation into Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy. State elections director Carol Beecher issued a preliminary decision, implying his removal unless he provided convincing proof of his candidacy’s legitimacy. He failed to do so, prompting Ms. Beecher to de-certify his candidacy.

Ms. Beecher argued that Dan J. Sullivan’s choice to appear on the ballot as simply “Dan Sullivan” rather than his full registered name, “Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.”, seemed designed to mislead voters about which Sullivan was running. She noted that he even appeared to confuse himself by requesting to be listed under a name closely resembling that of the incumbent senator.