Removal of namesake Sullivan challenger from Alaska's Senate race could violate US Constitution, attorney says

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A decision by Alaska's election officials to remove a namesake challenger to incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan from Alaska's ballot violates the U.S. Constitution, according to an attorney advising the Alaska Legislature.

Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, a Republican, wrote this week in a letter to Dan J. Sullivan, a Petersburg resident who sought to challenge the Republican U.S. senator by the same name, that she believed he filed in an effort to confuse voters.

But according to a nonpartisan attorney who advises state lawmakers on legal matters, Beecher's decision to remove the Petersburg Sullivan from the Aug. 18 primary ballot may have violated the U.S. Constitution, which sets out specific requirements to serve in Congress and precludes Congress from implementing new ones.

Under the U.S. Constitution, a person may serve in the U.S. Senate if they are at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and reside in the state they represent at the time they are elected. The provision has been interpreted to preclude states from adding other requirements to serve in Congress.

"Denying a Congressional candidate access to the ballot because the candidate has a particular name would violate the U.S. Constitution," wrote legislative attorney Andrew Dunmire, responding to a question from Anchorage Democratic Rep. Zack Fields.

The Petersburg Sullivan, a retired teacher who sought to run as a Republican, said Wednesday that he had not decided yet whether to challenge the Division of Elections decision in court.

"While I appreciate everyone's interest, legal counsel works at a different pace than the news cycle. Any decision I make needs to be weighed carefully about what's best for me and my family. This wasn't on my bingo card and it's just me alone trying to figuring out the best path forward," Sullivan wrote in a text message.

Alaska's U.S. Senate race is seen as one of a handful that could determine control of the chamber after this year's midterm elections. Incumbent Sen. Sullivan's most prominent challenger is Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, who so far has focused her campaign on affordability challenges.

The incumbent Sullivan has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015.

The state's decision to remove the Petersburg Sullivan from the ballot came after the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Alaska Republican Party filed complaints accusing the challenger of attempting to trick voters and asking the state to remove him. The Petersburg Sullivan has maintained that he is running because he is unhappy with the incumbent's record.

There are nine people by the name of Daniel Sullivan registered to vote in Alaska, including former Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, who has previously appeared on the same ballot as U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan - though not in the same race - without the situation leading to a legal challenge.

Alaska's U.S. Senate race currently numbers 15 candidates, including six Republicans, three Democrats, three nonpartisan candidates, a Libertarian, a member of the Green Party and a member of the Alaskan Party. Under the state's election laws, all candidates regardless of party affiliation will appear on the same August primary ballot. The top four vote-getters will advance to November's ranked-choice general election.

The last day for changes to be made to the Aug. 18 primary ballot is June 27. The ballot is scheduled to be certified for printing on June 28.

_____

(Anchorage Daily News reporter Alex DeMarban contributed to this story.)

_____

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 3:42 PM.