U.S. Senate candidate Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg said he accidentally changed his party affiliation during the primary election in August. Sullivan is no longer registered as a Republican, and is now “undeclared”.
In an email to KFSK, Division of Elections spokesperson Stephen Kirch said the change happened when Sullivan voted in the primary election.
“Daniel J. Sullivan voted an absentee ballot in the Primary and put Undeclared on the absentee envelope. So, he changed his own status,” Kirch wrote.
According to state code, the envelope used for absentee and questioned ballots can be used as a way to update voter information.
Sullivan’s party affiliation has been contentious ever since the retired teacher originally announced his candidacy as a Republican earlier this summer. He was a member of the Alaska Independence Party for decades before it dissolved late last year. He later registered as a Republican.
He also shares a name with Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, and Republicans have claimed that Petersburg Sullivan is running to confuse voters. The Division of Elections attempted to remove the candidate from the ballot, but the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that Petersburg Sullivan could stay.
Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are facing off in a closely-watched race that could impact which party takes control of the Senate. The Trump administration filed a lawsuit last week to block certification of the election if incumbent Dan S. Sullivan loses. The lawsuit calls for an investigation into whether votes cast for Dan J. Sullivan were meant for the sitting senator. However, the State of Alaska is asking a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
This change does not impact what voters see on the ballot. Earlier this summer, the Division of Elections chose to display Petersburg Sullivan on the ballot without his party in order to distinguish between the two candidates.
In a text to KFSK on Monday, Dan J. Sullivan said the party change was a “mistake,” and that he “got mixed up by the lack of affiliation by my name on the ballot.” Despite the change, Sullivan said he’s still running a Republican campaign.
The general election takes place on Nov. 3, and early voting is already underway.
