An Alaska judge has ruled that Dan J. Sullivan, a former US Forest Service worker and elementary school teacher, can join the US Senate ballot, overturning a state election official’s decision to remove him as an ineligible candidate.
Background
The decision to remove Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot was made by Carol Beecher, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, after Republican Party officials complained that his candidacy would mislead voters. Republicans, including Senator Dan Sullivan, have accused Democrats of recruiting the challenger to cause confusion and aid Senate Democratic candidate Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman.
In a late Friday ruling, Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews said the decision to remove Dan J. 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 the 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.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
