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The Supreme Court of Alaska on Monday ruled that a man with the same name as Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) can remain on the ballot in the state’s Senate primary.
The state’s highest court affirmed a lower court’s ruling, which overturned the decision by Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot.
The ruling from the state’s high court directed the Alaska Division of Elections to list Sullivan “as a candidate within the confines of existing ballot design law.”
In removing Daniel Sullivan from the ballot, Beecher said his candidacy was intended to “confuse or mislead” voters. Daniel Sullivan, a retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service employee who is running as a Republican, appealed the decision — with Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews reversing Beecher’s move over the weekend.
The incumbent Republican, who is seeking a third term in the upper chamber, has accused Daniel Sullivan of entering the race to harm his campaign and boost the chances of former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), the Democratic nominee. Peltola’s campaign has denied any links to Daniel Sullivan.
The nonpartisan primary in Alaska is set for Aug. 18, with the top four candidates advancing to the general election.
A National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) complaint to the Federal Election Commission and Alaska officials from earlier this month alleges political strategist Amber Lee helped the challenger launch his campaign for free, in violation of federal law. Lee runs her own strategic marketing firm and has advised multiple Democratic clients, according to her website.
Upon launching his campaign, Daniel Sullivan introduced himself as “Dan Sullivan,” with his logo closely resembling the incumbent senator’s design — both took inspiration from the Alaskan flag. As of Tuesday, though, Sullivan’s logo is in a different font and includes his middle initial.
The Hill has reached out to a spokeswoman for the NRSC for comment on the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling. The Alaska Division of Elections, meanwhile, can appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is heading on its summer recess Tuesday and will not return for its next formal term until October, although the court can issue emergency rulings in the interim.
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