U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, in a ruling released Sunday.
Gleason found that the federal government lacked the ability to bring the suit, which cited the preamble of the National Voter Registration Act. The administration had sought to halt certification so officials could investigate whether voters were confused by two similarly named candidates on Alaska’s ranked-choice ballot. Gleason concluded that such an order would likely violate voters’ right to a secret ballot.
Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels told NPR that the department plans to appeal. President Donald Trump said he ordered the suit because the ballot includes both Sen. Sullivan and Daniel Sullivan Jr., who is not affiliated with a political party.
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that Sullivan Jr. had the right to run, after a state court effort supported by the Alaska Republican Party sought to keep him off the ballot. Democratic candidate and former Rep. Mary Peltola has denied involvement in efforts to recruit him, while incumbent Sullivan said Sunday he would accept the election results whether he wins or loses.