Alaska Supreme Court rules that Dan J. Sullivan can appear on the ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan
Alaska Supreme Court justices hear oral arguments in the case of Alaska Division of Elections vs. Daniel J. Sullivan regarding ballot eligibility on June 29, 2026. (KTOO / Gavel Alaska screenshot)
Three hours after hearing oral arguments, the Alaska Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the namesake challenger to Sen. Dan Sullivan can appear on the Aug. 18 primary ballot.
Four justices heard the case.
The court decided that Friday’s order by Anchorage Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews, allowing Dan J. Sullivan to appear on the ballot, should stand.
The state Supreme Court also sent the issue to the Alaska Division of Elections “to determine” how Dan J. Sullivan “shall be listed as a candidate within the confines of existing Alaska ballot design law,” the court said.
“A full opinion will be issued at a later date,” the court said.
Dan J. Sullivan, 70 and a retired teacher from Petersburg, registered to run for the Senate seat in late May.
He asked to appear on the ballot as a Republican, the same party as Sen. Dan Sullivan, though he hadn’t previously affiliated as a Republican in 40-plus years of registering to vote in Alaska, the state asserted.
Earlier this month, Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, a Republican, determined that Dan J. Sullivan’s declaration of candidacy was not filed in good faith.
The division had received complaints from the Alaska Republican Party and the National Republican Senatorial Committee alleging that Democrats had encouraged Dan J. Sullivan to run, in order to benefit the incumbent senator’s top opponent, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. Dan J. Sullivan has maintained that he is running because he believes the senator has done a poor job serving Alaskans, and he has rejected accusations that he is trying to trick voters.
Dan J. Sullivan from Petersburg, right, is challenging Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, left, in Alaska’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. (Photos provided by Dan J. Sullivan, right, and by Bill Roth / ADN, left)
Early last week, the Petersburg Sullivan appealed to the courts to take up Beecher’s decision disqualifying him. In fast-tracked court proceedings, Matthews ruled in favor of Dan J. Sullivan on Friday. The state immediately appealed, leading to the state Supreme Court hearing.
The case has drawn national attention and involves a race that could determine control of the Senate in November. Several parties were allowed to file “friends of the court” briefs in the case, including Iowa and 13 other states that supported the Division of Elections’ argument.
Chief Justice Susan Carney and justices Jennifer Henderson, Jude Pate and Aimee Oravec heard the case.
Supreme Court Justice Dario Borghesan recused himself from the case.
He’s related to one of the attorneys for Dan J. Sullivan, said Rebecca Koford, a spokesperson with the courts.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
