Federal Judge Throws Out Trump Administration Lawsuit Over Alaska's Senate Result — the State Can Certify Even If the Two Sullivans Split the Vote
The administration wanted Alaska blocked from certifying a loss by Senator Dan Sullivan if votes for a rival who shares his name could have changed the outcome. A federal judge in Anchorage threw the suit out on Sunday, two days before the election.
A federal judge on Sunday threw out a Trump administration lawsuit seeking to block Alaska from certifying a loss by Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in the November 3 election if votes for a rival who shares his name could have changed the outcome, Reuters reported.
The ruling, by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage, was the latest blow to President Donald Trump's effort to boost the federal government's role in elections, which are administered by the states under the U.S. Constitution, Reuters reported. The Justice Department had asked a federal court to prevent the certification of Alaska's vote if the incumbent senator loses narrowly.
The lawsuit grew out of Alaska's pivotal Senate race. Federal prosecutors are investigating whether aides to Democratic challenger Mary Peltola helped recruit a retired schoolteacher, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., to run because he shares a name with the Republican incumbent, Senator Dan S. Sullivan, Reuters reported in its same-day coverage. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Peltola aides worked with staff at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on the effort; Peltola and the campaign committee have denied involvement, and Sullivan Jr. has denied coordinating with Peltola's campaign. Sunday's ruling removes the certification block the administration sought — Alaska's result will be certified on the state's own process when the votes are counted.
