A federal judge threw out the Trump administration’s attempt to block the certification of results from a key U.S. Senate race in Alaska if the Republican incumbent loses. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason released a ruling finding that the federal government lacks the legal standing to bring the lawsuit. Justice Department attorneys had cited the preamble of the National Voter Registration Act in their case.
President Donald Trump stated he ordered the lawsuit filed because the Alaska ballot features two candidates with similar names: Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who runs without a party affiliation. The ruling came just two days before Election Day in a closely watched contest that could determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Federal Dismissal of the Department of Justice Lawsuit
Judge Gleason ruled in U.S. District Court in Anchorage that the federal government failed to establish its standing to file a civil complaint seeking to postpone certification if the incumbent lost. The Department of Justice had wanted an investigation into voter intent and potential confusion regarding the two similarly named candidates. Gleason pointed out that the federal government offered no explanation for how its requested relief could protect ballot secrecy while investigating voters.
The state of Alaska also opposed the federal intervention. Attorneys from the Alaska Department of Law, alongside Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher and state election review boards, filed a 14-page motion slamming the federal demands as inappropriate and unfeasible. State attorneys argued that the federal request to segregate specific ballots violated Alaska voters’ rights to ballot secrecy and interfered with state responsibilities over the time, place, and manner of elections.
Did You Know? Alaska’s Supreme Court ruled back in June that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. had the full right to run as a candidate on the state’s ballot after the state’s Republican Party unsuccessfully attempted to keep him off it.
Republicans allege spoiler candidate involvement in race
Republicans have alleged that Democrats propped up Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. as a spoiler candidate to siphon votes from the incumbent. A report by The New York Times detailed efforts by Democratic campaign aides and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee operatives to recruit Sullivan Jr. into the race. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and her campaign have repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in recruiting a second candidate named Sullivan.
Q-If [Mary Peltola] were to win, and if she's still under investigation, would you certify the election?Gov. Dunleavy- "If we conclude there were things…that are illegal, we will act on that. And that may in fact impact whether somebody is seated in the U.S. Senate" pic.twitter.com/T3npq6L0xk
At a press conference in Anchorage, U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed an ongoing criminal probe by the Justice Department, noting that recent information was deeply troubling. Meanwhile, Alaska’s Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation and indicated that the state might halt or alter election certification depending on the findings of that inquiry. Incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan stated in a CNN interview that he intends to accept the final results of the election.
Expert Insight: Federal court interventions in state-administered election procedures remain rare. The dismissal highlights the jurisdictional boundaries separating federal executive enforcement from state election administration.
Justice Department attorneys expect to appeal dismissal
Justice Department attorneys are expected to appeal Judge Gleason’s dismissal of the lawsuit. Legal experts note that any appellate proceedings will unfold against the backdrop of ongoing state-level investigations ordered by Gov. Dunleavy regarding candidate recruitment allegations. State election procedures dictate that ballots must be preserved for 22 months as a matter of standard policy regardless of emerging litigation.
Control of the U.S. Senate hangs in the balance as voters cast their ballots in a closely monitored contest. While state officials handle final vote counting and potential certification reviews, the intersection of federal investigations and state election laws continues to generate intense legal scrutiny.
🚨 FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES TRUMP DOJ LAWSUIT OVER ALASKA SENATE RACE — TWO CANDIDATES NAMED DAN SULLIVAN AT CENTER OF DISPUTEA federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to delay certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan…
Judge Gleason dismisses Justice Department election lawsuit
Why did the Department of Justice file a lawsuit in the Alaska Senate race?
The Department of Justice filed the lawsuit at the direction of President Trump, citing potential voter confusion over two candidates named Dan Sullivan appearing on the Alaska ballot.
What did Judge Sharon Gleason decide in her Sunday ruling?
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the federal government lacked legal standing to block certification or interfere with the state’s administration of its election.
Has Democratic candidate Mary Peltola responded to the allegations?
Mary Peltola has denied any involvement in or knowledge of efforts to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. to the ballot, calling the reports a distraction.
How will the presence of two candidates named Sullivan on the Alaska ballot influence your view of ranked-choice voting mechanics?
🚨BREAKING: In a win for voters, a federal judge dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit seeking to undermine Alaska's U.S. Senate race.As a result, the state cannot be forced to segregate ballots of those who cast a vote for the independent candidate. pic.twitter.com/edmEtiKfDD