After hearing oral arguments, yesterday, June 29, 2026, the Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a teacher from Petersburg with the same first and last name as incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, is allowed to appear on the ballot as a candidate for U.S. Senate. Petersburg Dan will appear on the ballot simply as “Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.” with no party affiliation. The incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan will appear as “Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) incumbent.”
The race for Alaska’s open U.S. Senate seat is a key race garnering keen media attention as Democrats spend big money to flip the seat. The major players are incumbent U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), who has been serving Alaska in the U.S. Senate for 10 years, and Democrat Mary Peltola, who represented Alaska in the House of Representatives from 2022-2024. Recently, a high-profile controversy resulted from the filing for candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr., a teacher from Petersburg with the same first and last name as the incumbent Senator.
After Petersburg Dan filed, switched his party affiliation to Republican, ripped off the incumbent Senator’s campaign design, and seemed unwilling to distinguish himself from the incumbent, Republicans asserted that Petersburg Dan was not running with an intent to serve as senator, but instead with the intent to confuse voters and draw votes away from the incumbent.
The Division of Elections then launched an investigation. After questioning Petersburg Dan and reviewing the evidence, the Division of Elections decided on June 15 that Petersburg Dan did not properly file and could not appear on the August primary ballot. Petersburg Dan appealed the decision on June 22. On June 27, the Superior Court ruled in favor of Petersburg Dan, stating he could not be barred from the ballot. The Division of Elections then appealed the ruling to the Alaska Supreme Court. On June 29, the Alaska Supreme Court agreed with the Superior Court and ordered the Division of Elections to allow Petersburg Dan on the ballot.
Read about the oral arguments presented to the Alaska Supreme Court in Division of Elections v Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.: Alaska Supreme Court Hears Petersburg Dan Case; Decision Expected Today or Tomorrow
