=In the national controversy surrounding the candidacy of Petersburg resident Dan James Sullivan, Jr. and his attempt to challenge Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in the upcoming U.S. Senate race, the State Division of Elections is set to rule that the challenger is ineligible to run.

In a June 10 letter from Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, Daniel J. Sullivan was informed that the state does not believe he is a legitimate candidate and is prepared to remove him from the ballot.

Earlier this week, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom launched an investigation into the candidacy of Sullivan, Jr. In a sharply worded letter dated June 8, Dahlstrom raised serious questions about whether the challenger’s declaration of candidacy was filed in good faith or as part of an effort to confuse voters.

The letter notifies Sullivan, Jr. that the Division of Elections is reviewing credible allegations that he may have coordinated with another campaign to capitalize on the fact that he shares the same first and last name as the incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, while also newly affiliating with the Republican Party in order to siphon off votes.

“If true, it suggests that your declaration of candidacy… was not genuine and not properly filed,” Dahlstrom wrote. She described the situation as “unprecedented” and potentially damaging to voter rights and election integrity.

Dahlstrom gave Sullivan, Jr. until noon on June 10, to submit a sworn affidavit answering seven detailed questions aimed at determining whether his candidacy is actually a ploy to confuse and mislead voters to benefit Democrat candidate Mary Peltola, who is attempting to unseat Sen. Sullivan.

Instead of offering a sworn affidavit, Sullivan, Jr. wrote two letters in response to Dahlstrom’s request.

“Based on a review of the evidence presented and in the Division’s possession, the Division has determined that the preponderance of evidence does not support your eligibility for the office of United States Senator,” Beecher wrote on June 10.

She added that Sullivan, Jr. can still provide “any additional information and evidence to respond to these complaints and support your eligibility by 5 p.m. on June 11.

At that point, the Division of Elections will issue a final determination, Beecher concluded.

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