JUNEAU, Alaska — A judge has ruled that a man sharing the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to appear on the August primary ballot to challenge the incumbent. Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews overturned a June 15 decision by the Alaska Division of Elections to disqualify the challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, citing a lack of legal basis for the exclusion.

The ruling came on Friday, less than three months ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, with the Alaska Department of Law indicating that a final decision would need to be reached by Tuesday to allow time for printing ballots. The Division of Elections had removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot on the grounds that his candidacy was not filed “in good faith,” a criterion the judge found was not supported by the state Constitution, Alaska statutes, or agency regulations. Matthews noted the “good faith” standard was introduced after the challenger’s filing and was not previously codified in election rules.

The challenger, a 69-year-old retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service employee from Petersburg, Alaska, had entered the race expressing frustration with the senator’s performance. Initially listed as Dan J. Sullivan on state candidate lists—with the incumbent identified separately as Dan S. Sullivan—the challenger shares both party affiliation and name with the senator, a fact that election officials and the senator’s allies said could potentially confuse voters.

The Division of Elections director, Carol Beecher, had cited the challenger’s previous voter registration as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a change in party affiliation to Republican shortly before filing, similarities between the two candidates’ campaign websites, and the challenger’s association with a political consultant who has worked for Democratic clients as evidence supporting disqualification. However, no direct proof of coordination with opposing campaigns was provided.

Senator Sullivan and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have condemned the challenger’s candidacy, accusing him of acting in concert with Democrats, particularly in support of former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, who is the leading Democratic contender in the race. Both Peltola’s campaign and state Democrats have denied any such collaboration, as has the challenger himself.

Under Alaska’s election system, the top four vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party, advance to a ranked-choice general election in November. The close and competitive nature of this U.S. Senate race has heightened scrutiny surrounding the challenger’s presence on the ballot.

In court filings, the state argued against re-inclusion, stating that the Constitution does not compel placing a “sham candidate” on the ballot to be mitigated by design features aimed at reducing voter confusion. Conversely, the challenger's legal team contended that the U.S. Constitution specifies only age, citizenship, and residency as eligibility criteria for Senate candidates, and that the Division of Elections director lacked authority to remove their client.

Jeffrey Robinson, attorney for Dan J. Sullivan, indicated an appeal was expected and withheld further comment pending a decision from the Alaska Supreme Court. State officials have not yet responded to requests for comment following Friday’s ruling. The outcome now rests on whether the Supreme Court will uphold the judge's decision before the upcoming primary.