Alaska Republicans Seek to Bar Dan J. Sullivan From Senate Ballot Over Voter Confusion Concerns

A political battle is intensifying in Alaska over a potentially consequential issue for congressional control: whether two candidates named Dan Sullivan can legally appear on the state’s ballot for Senate in November.

Dan J. Sullivan, a former teacher, is fighting to maintain his spot on the ballot to challenge Senator Dan S. Sullivan, an incumbent Republican, after an elections official moved to disqualify him.

Both major parties view Dan J. Sullivan’s eligibility beyond mere campaign curiosity. While Dan J. Sullivan—who recently registered as a Republican— isn’t expected to run a competitive campaign, Republicans worry that voter confusion could inadvertently benefit Democratic candidate former Representative Mary Peltola in a race that could determine Senate control.

On Monday, Alaska Lieutenant Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican, launched an investigation into Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy, citing “credible allegations” of coordination with Ms. Peltola to confuse voters. Alaska’s top elections official, Carol Beecher, also sent Dan J. Sullivan a letter questioning his eligibility and requesting documentation by Thursday night.

Dan J. Sullivan and Ms. Peltola have denied any coordination. In response, Dan J. Sullivan called the investigation an attempt to protect the incumbent, stating that following rules and filing under his legal name should qualify him for the ballot.

Alaska’s nonpartisan primary system allows the top four candidates to advance to the November general election, where ranked-choice voting is used. If Dan J. Sullivan advances, voter confusion could result in both Dan Sullivans receiving higher rankings than Ms. Peltola.

Republicans have expressed concern about potential vote-splitting. To mitigate this, One Nation, a Republican-aligned nonprofit, recently released an ad emphasizing Senator Sullivan’s middle initial.

Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign website describes him as a former elementary school teacher and bartender from Petersburg, Alaska. His entry into the race followed shortly before the August 18 primary deadline.

Federal records show Dan J. Sullivan made small donations to several Democratic candidates, including $30 to Ms. Peltola’s 2024 campaign and $100 to her 2022 House run.

Republicans quickly alleged Dan J. Sullivan was Democrats’ ploy to split the Sullivan vote. The National Republican Senatorial Committee pointed to metadata showing his campaign announcement originated with a Democratic consultant, Amber Lee, who has supported Ms. Peltola.

Dan J. Sullivan confirmed Lee advised his campaign but argued that political consultants routinely work across party lines. He emphasized differences between his site and Senator Sullivan’s, noting his personal photo and distinct background.

The ACLU of Alaska is monitoring the case, calling the state’s actions an abuse of governmental power. With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats, Democrats must retain all current seats and flip four to win the chamber—a goal aided by competitive races like Alaska’s.

Alaskans have experienced similar electoral quirks before; in 2014, Mayor Dan A. Sullivan shared the ballot with his namesake for lieutenant governor.

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