Alaska Democratic Party Sues to Disqualify Republican Candidate Jose Tagle

The Alaska Democratic Party is suing the Alaska Division of Elections to disqualify Republican candidate Jose Anthony Tagle from the 2026 race for House District 22. The party alleges that Tagle is ineligible for office because he filed a blank Public Officer Disclosure Form, despite serving as president and owning a 40% stake in the Anchorage-based company Stardust LLC.

Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher denied the initial complaint, asserting that her agency cannot consider the grounds of the complaint because the Alaska Public Offices Commission holds the authority to review the accuracy of financial disclosures. The Democratic Party argues this determination is arbitrary and inconsistent with the agency's prior positions regarding candidate eligibility based on public records.

Anchorage Superior Court Judge Josie Garton granted a motion for expedited consideration, tentatively scheduling oral arguments for August 7. The state's Department of Law stated the division will defend the decision, with a final resolution expected after the primary. If the court rules against Tagle, he could be removed from the November general election, potentially leaving incumbent Representative Ted Eischeid to run unopposed.