Judge Rejects Trump Administration's Attempt to Interfere in Alaska Senate Count
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A federal judge threw out a Trump administration lawsuit that sought to slow Alaska's Senate certification, saying the government had no right to upend the process over alleged confusion involving two Dan Sullivans.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that sought to delay the certification of results in Alaska's Senate race, which features two candidates named Dan Sullivan. The lawsuit, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, argued that the presence of both Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan and independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot could confuse voters and siphon support away from the incumbent.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason said the federal government lacks the authority to force Alaska to separate and investigate ballots in the three-way race, which also includes Democrat Mary Peltola. She stressed the need to protect voter secrecy and noted that the Justice Department's requested measures would be unworkable so close to the election, especially since many voters had already cast ballots through early voting and by mail.
After the ruling, the Justice Department said it would appeal, claiming the court rejected the case on procedural grounds and did not dispute its allegation that Daniel J. Sullivan entered the race as a frivolous candidate meant to confuse voters. President Donald Trump, who ordered the Justice Department to bring the lawsuit, said the situation was unusual and called Daniel J. Sullivan a 'fake' candidate.
The race is seen as one of the most competitive contests in the upcoming midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for the final two years of Trump's presidency. Peltola's campaign has faced scrutiny amid allegations that Democratic operatives tried to recruit spoiler candidates, though she has denied any role in such efforts.