{"id":2623766,"date":"2026-07-04T13:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T17:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-looks-to-decide-fate-of-decoy-candidate-with-same-name-as-senator\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T13:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T17:30:57","slug":"court-looks-to-decide-fate-of-decoy-candidate-with-same-name-as-senator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-looks-to-decide-fate-of-decoy-candidate-with-same-name-as-senator\/","title":{"rendered":"Court Looks to Decide Fate of &#8216;Decoy&#8217; Candidate with Same Name as Senator"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcourt-looks-to-decide-fate-of-decoy-candidate-with-same-name-as-senator%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2623766&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Alaska Supreme Court is currently considering a case regarding whether to remove a Senate candidate with the same name as the incumbent from the ballot. The candidate,Dan J. Sullivan, a Republican, filed to run against Senator Dan Sullivan, also a Republican. The Honest Elections Project has filed an amicus brief arguing that Dan J. Sullivan&#8217;s candidacy was not properly filed and that his name causes voter confusion, alleging he filed to manipulate the election. Alaska&#8217;s division of Elections initially invalidated Dan J. sullivan&#8217;s candidacy, citing a lack of genuine intent, but this decision was overruled by the Alaska Superior Court, with the case now pending before the state&#8217;s Supreme Court. The dispute highlights concerns over election integrity, propagation of false candidacies, and potential voter confusion, especially given Alaska&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/glenn-youngkin-wins-gop-nomination-for-governor-of-virginia\/\" title=\"Glenn Youngkin Wins GOP Nomination For Governor Of Virginia\">ranked-choice voting system<\/a>.The court&#8217;s decision is expected before June 30, and the outcome could influence the election, especially if voters are misled by the similar names.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Alaska Supreme Court is hearing a case Monday that will decide whether or not to remove a Senate candidate with the same name as the incumbent he is challenging from the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Senate candidate Dan J. Sullivan\u00a0announced his campaign to run against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan earlier this year. The Honest Elections <a href=\"https:\/\/honestelections.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Project<\/a> (HEP) filed an <a href=\"https:\/\/honestelections.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HEP-Decoy-Dan-Alaska-Supreme-Court-Amicus-Brief.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">amicus brief<\/a> arguing that the new candidate Sullivan was not \u201cproperly filed\u201d for candidacy and that his name causes confusion on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>The brief claims that he filed \u201cto confuse voters and corrupt the neutrality of the ballot.\u201d The court must make a decision before June 30.<\/p>\n<p>The Alaska Division of Elections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elections.alaska.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Final-Determination-6.15.2026-DOE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ruled<\/a> earlier in June that Dan J. Sullivan was ineligible\u00a0to run because he did not file in \u201cactual good-faith candidacy,\u201d but rather filed to confuse voters, according to a press release from the HEP sent to the Daily Caller News Foundation. The Alaska Superior Court then overruled the Alaska Division of Elections\u2019 ruling, but the state appealed, leading to the case being sent to the state\u2019s Supreme Court, according to the press release.<\/p>\n<p>Under the U.S. Constitution Elections Clause, \u201ca state may exercise its authority for \u2018the prevention of fraud and corrupt practices\u2019 and \u2018the protection of voters,\u2019\u201d and \u201cexpressly permits regulation \u2018to avoid undue voter confusion,\u2019\u201d according to the amicus brief.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe facts of this case are clear and egregious: Dan J. Sullivan \u2014 aka \u2018Decoy Dan\u2019 \u2014 seems determined to orchestrate a fraud on the people of Alaska. States across the country and throughout American history have stopped phony candidacies like this one to preserve the integrity of the process,\u201d Jason Snead, Executive Director of HEP Action, said in a statement to the DCNF. \u201cAlaska officials have done the same, and it is time for the Alaska Supreme Court to respect their authority, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard Alaska\u2019s elections by keeping this obviously phony candidate off the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Neither Dan Sullivan immediately responded to DCNF\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Dan J. Sullivan requested to run as a Republican<strong> \u2013 <\/strong>even though he had no prior association with the Republican Party \u2013\u00a0further causing confusion on the ballot, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elections.alaska.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Final-Determination-6.15.2026-DOE.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">letter<\/a> from the Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher.<\/p>\n<p>Because Alaska uses a ranked voting system and because of the nominal confusion with the new candidate Sullivan, even if a small number of voters are misled into voting for new candidate Sullivan, instead of Sen. Sullivan, it could swing the election, the press release noted.<\/p>\n<p>In Alaska, the top four candidates, regardless of party, from the primary election proceed to the general election conducted via ranked-choice voting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/union-membership-plummets-to-record-low\/\" title=\"Union Membership Plummets to Record Low\">legitimate news publisher<\/a> that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter\u2019s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact <a href=\"http:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alaska Supreme Court to decide on candidate with same name<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2623767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_9748.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4076,33739,6571,5894,4351],"class_list":["post-2623766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-candidate","tag-election-law","tag-elections","tag-politics","tag-voting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IMG_9748.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2623766"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2623771,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623766\/revisions\/2623771"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2623767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2623766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2623766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2623766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}