local
Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska’s primary ballot, judge rules
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· June 27, 2026
· 4 min read
Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man with the same name and Republican party affiliation as Alaska US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled Friday, the latest turn in a drama surrounding the broader fight over control of the US Senat...
Key takeaway Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to disqualify the challenger and keep him off the primary ballot.
Why this matters in The El Paso
This ruling may have implications for El Paso voters who have family or business ties to Alaska, particularly those with interests in the fishing industry, given the challenger Dan J. Sullivan's background as a resident of the small fishing community of Petersburg. As the situation in Alaska unfolds, El Pasoans may be watching to see how the ranked-choice voting system, which is not used in Texas, affects the outcome of the election. The controversy surrounding the two Dan Sullivans also raises questions about voter confusion and the potential for similar issues to arise in local elections, where candidates with similar names or affiliations may be on the ballot. El Paso voters may want to pay attention to how election officials in Alaska navigate this issue and whether any changes are made to the state's election laws or procedures as a result.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 27, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 4 min
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What is this story about? Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man with the same name and Republican party affiliation as Alaska US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled Friday, the latest turn in a drama surrounding the broader fight over control of the US Senat...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 27, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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