Alaska blocks same-name Dan Sullivan from GOP Senate primary
What's next: The challenger can appeal after election officials found the filing was meant to mislead voters in August's primary.
Alaska's top elections official ruled that a Republican U.S. Senate candidate sharing incumbent Dan Sullivan's name cannot appear on the state's August primary ballot. Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher wrote that Dan J. Sullivan's filing was not a good-faith bid for office and instead sought to confuse voters and undermine ballot neutrality. Beecher cited his request to appear as "Dan Sullivan" despite being registered as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., and said he at one point tried to use the incumbent's middle initial. She also noted he had not previously been registered as a Republican. The ruling affects a closely watched Alaska Senate race in which Dan Sullivan is seeking a third term and can still be appealed.