WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) – An Alaska judge has ruled that Dan J. Sullivan can join Republican U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan on the state’s August 18 primary ballot, overturning a state election official’s earlier decision to remove the challenger as an ineligible candidate.
The unelected Sullivan, a former U.S. Forest Service worker and retired teacher, was removed from the ballot last week by Carol Beecher, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, after Republican Party officials complained that his candidacy would mislead voters.
Republicans, including Senator Sullivan, have also accused Democrats of recruiting the challenger to cause confusion and aid Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola, a former U.S. representative.
In a late Friday ruling, Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews said the decision to remove the challenger Sullivan had been undertaken on “good-faith criteria” that are not found in the Constitution or Alaska election laws. “Mr. Dan Sullivan is declared to be an eligible candidate,” the judge concluded.
Local media reports said Matthews’ ruling was expected to be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court ahead of a Tuesday deadline for state election officials to begin printing ballots.
All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the ballot for the state’s nonpartisan primary, with the four top vote-getters advancing to the November general election.
The Peltola campaign has no involvement on either Sullivan campaign, Peltola spokesperson Harry Child said in a statement.
Senator Sullivan’s campaign did not immediately respond to a Reuters query seeking comment. Nor did the Alaska Democratic Party. Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign was not available for comment.
(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Alistair Bell, Rod Nickel)
