Federal judge dismisses Trump bid to halt Alaska Senate count
Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the government lacked standing to sue over a name confusion dispute involving two Sullivan candidates.
By Nikhil Petrov ·
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the federal government's lawsuit on Sunday, ending the Trump administration's effort to block the certification of results in Alaska's Senate race. The case sought to stop the count if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan lost to a candidate with a similar name.
The administration argued that the National Voter Registration Act's preamble gave the Department of Justice authority to intervene. Gleason, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, found that the federal government did not have the legal ability to bring the suit. Justice Department attorneys are expected to appeal the decision.
President Trump said he ordered the filing because two of the four Senate candidates on Alaska's ballot share a confusing name. Dan Sullivan is the Republican incumbent. Daniel Sullivan Jr. is an independent candidate. The similarity has fueled Republican claims that Democrats supported the non-incumbent to split the vote.
Alaska's Republican Party previously tried to remove Sullivan Jr. from the ballot in state court. The Alaska Supreme Court rejected that effort in June, ruling that Sullivan Jr. had the right to run. Despite that ruling, allegations of Democratic interference have continued to shape the narrative around the contest.
A report from The New York Times detailed efforts by Democratic campaign operatives to recruit Sullivan Jr. NPR has not independently confirmed those details. The story renewed scrutiny on the race and prompted Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy to order an investigation.
Dunleavy said Friday that the state may delay certifying the results depending on the investigation's outcome. He stated that if wrongdoing is found, the certification process might stop or change. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman announced an ongoing criminal probe by the Justice Department at a press conference in Anchorage.
Mary Peltola, the Democratic candidate for the seat, has denied any involvement in recruiting the independent candidate. The dismissal of the federal lawsuit leaves the state-level investigation as the primary mechanism for resolving questions about the election's integrity before the final count is officially recognized.
Source: KUNM
