Alaska Court Disqualifies Dan Sullivan in Alleged Voter Confusion Scheme for Senate

By Jim Thomas | Tuesday, June 23, 2026

A retired teacher from Petersburg, Alaska, named Dan Sullivan, asked an Anchorage Superior Court Monday to put him back on the August primary ballot for U.S. Senate days after the state’s top election official disqualified him.

Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher disqualified Dan J. Sullivan on June 15, finding that his declaration of candidacy “was not filed in order to declare an actual good-faith candidacy” but instead was filed “with a purpose to confuse or mislead” voters in the race against Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.

Beecher cited the retired educator’s recent switch in party registration to Republican, similarities between his campaign website and the senator’s, and work with a consultant whose clients have included Democrats.

Sullivan’s attorneys argue that Beecher had no authority to make that call. The U.S. Constitution requires candidates for Senate to be at least 30 years old, natural-born citizens, and residents of the state where they seek office.

“The filing states nothing in Alaska law regulates in any way the private motivations that draw individuals to declare or campaign for office,” attorneys Jeffrey Robinson, Bryn Pallesen, and Zoe Eisberg wrote. “The division abused its discretion and exceeded its statutory jurisdiction.”

The dispute came before Alaska lawmakers the same afternoon. A joint hearing of the House Judiciary and State Affairs committees heard testimony that the regulation Beecher relied on — which bars names that are “confusing or misleading” — does not authorize her to police candidate intent.

Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, who chairs Judiciary, said the division was effectively adding a constitutional qualification by screening candidates based on their motives.

Beecher and Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom did not attend; a follow-up hearing is set for July 22.

The challenger, a former U.S. Forest Service worker who taught elementary school, entered the race days before the June 1 filing deadline. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and Sen. Sullivan have called him a sham candidate working to boost former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska — who lost her House seat in January 2025.

Peltola’s campaign, state Democrats, and the challenger have denied any coordination. When asked by The Associated Press whether he had spoken with Peltola’s team, Sullivan said, “Zero, none, zilch.”

Beecher’s disqualification order did not cite evidence of coordination.

Time is short. Beecher has said ballots are due at the printer Sunday for the Aug. 18 primary, in which the top four finishers across party lines advance to a ranked-choice general election.

Alaska Department of Law spokesperson Sam Curtis said the state will defend the division’s decision and expects a swift ruling.