Alaska panel preliminarily bars namesake challenger from Senate race

Alaska’s Division of Elections preliminarily ruled that Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg is not eligible to run for the U.S. Senate after complaints alleging he misrepresented his party affiliation and possibly coordinated with Democrats; the decision isn’t final and he has a Thursday deadline to respond with a sworn affidavit before a final ruling is issued, as Republicans and the NRSC push to keep his name off the ballot amid concerns it could help Mary Peltola; the Aug. 18 primary looms.