A federal judge has rejected the Trump administration’s effort to stop Alaska from certifying its U.S. Senate election results in the event that Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason determined that the federal government did not have the legal standing to initiate the lawsuit, as it failed to demonstrate how the court could provide a remedy for its alleged injury.
The Justice Department aimed to halt certification while investigating potential voter confusion caused by two similarly named candidates on the state’s ranked-choice ballot. The ballot lists the incumbent as “Dan S. Sullivan (Registered Republican) Incumbent” and another candidate as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” without a party affiliation. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher, changed his voter registration to undeclared before the election.
Judge Gleason stated the government did not propose a feasible remedy since ballots had already been mixed and could not be tracked back to individual voters. She noted that requiring ballots for Sullivan Jr. to be isolated for law enforcement checks would breach the confidentiality of voting.
“The lack of explanation from the United States regarding how its requested relief could uphold the secrecy of the ballot is significant,” Gleason wrote, highlighting that changing election rules before an election is generally discouraged by federal courts.
The Justice Department plans to appeal Judge Gleason’s decision. A statement from the department clarified that the court dismissed the case on procedural grounds, without disputing claims that Sullivan Jr. intended to confuse voters. The White House referred inquiries to the Justice Department.
President Donald Trump claimed the lawsuit was necessary due to concerns over similar candidate names on the ballot. Democratic Representative Mary Peltola and Republican Gerald Heikes also participated in the election. Trump alleged that Sullivan Jr. was involved in unlawful acts but provided no evidence.
Alaska’s election officials were asked to secure ballots ranking Sullivan Jr. for potential voter investigations. However, state attorneys opposed the Justice Department’s stance, labeling it without merit. They argued that segregating ballots would prove difficult, violate voter privacy, and possibly contradict Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to select both candidates.
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin defended Alaska’s ballot language, arguing it clearly identifies the incumbent. Raskin criticized alleged attempts to recruit candidates with similar names as “absurd politics.”
Why Two Dan Sullivans Are on the Ballot
The controversy over Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy began before Election Day. Initially, the Alaska Division of Elections removed him from the ballot, suspecting deceptive intentions. A state judge reversed this decision, ruling Alaska law did not require good-faith motivation for candidacy, a decision upheld by the Alaska Supreme Court.
Allegations that Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were involved in recruiting Sullivan Jr. escalated the issue. Both denied involvement, and Sullivan Jr. stated his candidacy aimed to provide voters with more options.
Continued Investigations Despite Ruling
Judge Gleason’s ruling rejects the current civil action by the Justice Department, which has planned to appeal. This does not conclude ongoing federal or state criminal investigations into alleged candidate recruitment efforts. Federal authorities have issued subpoenas, although they have not revealed specific targets or potential offenses.
Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into the allegations. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation, collaborating with the Alaska Department of Law, is leading this effort. Dunleavy indicated that findings could influence election certification.
Alaska’s legal representatives argued effectively against the Justice Department’s case, asserting no legal foundation for requested relief. Nonetheless, the Republican-led state government had to investigate serious allegations, creating a complex scenario.
Reactions to the Dismissal
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee welcomed the court’s decision as a triumph for democracy, portraying it as a repudiation of attempts to undermine elections. Executive Director Devan Barber expressed confidence in Alaskan voters’ ability to elect Peltola.
The NAACP supported the ruling, affirming the role of states in managing elections. NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke described the lawsuit as an unfounded bid to disrupt the election cycle.
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