Alaska elections office denies Daniel J. Sullivan's U.S. Senate filing

Alaska election officials denied Daniel J. Sullivan's candidacy for U.S. Senate, concluding his filing was not made in good faith and would confuse voters because of its similarity to incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The Division of Elections candidate list now marks the incumbent, Dan S. Sullivan, as certified. It marks Daniel J. Sullivan of Petersburg as denied.

In a June 15 letter reviewed by Alaska News, Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher wrote that the division had received two complaints about Daniel J. Sullivan's eligibility. Beecher said the complaints were filed by Stacey C. Stone on behalf of Carmela Warfield, chair of the Alaska Republican Party.

Beecher wrote that Sullivan was offered a chance to submit more information by 5 p.m. June 11 but did not do so.

The division's final determination says the filing was not a good-faith candidacy for U.S. Senate. Instead, Beecher wrote, the filing appeared designed to confuse voters about which Dan Sullivan was on the ballot.

The letter points to several factors: Sullivan sought ballot access as Dan Sullivan, even though division records showed he was registered as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. He asked to be listed as a Republican shortly after changing his party affiliation. His campaign website used a format, color scheme and theme similar to the incumbent senator's campaign site.

Beecher also wrote that a political consultant working with Sullivan's campaign was a longtime supporter of Democratic candidates, including a prior Democratic challenger to Sen. Sullivan.

The division said those facts, taken together, supported the conclusion that Daniel J. Sullivan's declaration of candidacy was filed to confuse or mislead voters and compromise the fairness or neutrality of the ballot.

The letter says Sullivan has 30 days to appeal the decision and seek judicial relief in Alaska Superior Court if he wants to be placed on the ballot. It also notes that ballots are scheduled to be printed June 28.

The decision follows an investigation opened earlier this month by Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom into whether Sullivan's filing was valid under Alaska election law.

For voters, the immediate effect is simple: the Division of Elections' candidate list no longer treats the Petersburg candidate as certified for the U.S. Senate race. It lists him as denied.