In a decisive ruling on Sunday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the Justice Department’s lawsuit that sought to block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race should incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan lose. The decision clears the way for the November 3 ranked‑choice election to move forward as scheduled.
Case background
The lawsuit, filed less than two weeks before the election, alleged that votes cast for retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan might have been intended for Senator Dan Sullivan, potentially confusing voters. The state argued the claim lacked merit and that investigating it would violate voter privacy.
Judge Gleason wrote that the relief sought was “infeasible” because many ballots had already been cast and mixed together, making it impossible to match any ballot to a specific voter. She noted that the United States offered no workable plan to segregate ballots for Dan J. Sullivan and conduct a court‑ordered investigation while preserving secrecy.
State and campaign response
Attorneys for the Alaska Department of Law, the Peltola campaign, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee argued the suit had no legal basis and amounted to unlawful interference. The state highlighted steps taken to distinguish the two candidates on the ballot, including labeling the retired teacher as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” with no party affiliation.
Both Sullivans appear similarly on the general‑election ballot, but the ranked‑choice system allows voters to rank them separately. If a voter’s first‑ranked Sullivan is eliminated, the vote transfers to the second Sullivan, not automatically to Democratic challenger Mary Peltola, unless the voter explicitly ranks her next.
Political context
Senator Sullivan, a close ally of President Trump, faces former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola in a race that could determine control of the Senate. President Trump has repeatedly criticized Alaska’s use of ranked‑choice voting, urging Republicans to rank every GOP candidate to avoid vote splitting.
Republican leaders in Alaska have echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of a united Republican slate in this high‑stakes contest.
Federal investigation continues
While the lawsuit was dismissed, the Justice Department has escalated a criminal investigation into the same‑named candidates, issuing new grand‑jury subpoenas and prompting the FBI to contact donors to the retired teacher’s campaign.
Despite the ongoing probe, the court’s ruling affirms the Constitution’s allocation of election authority to the states and upholds the Purcell principle, which cautions federal courts against altering election rules close to an election.
What voters need to know
Alaska’s election officials have distributed pamphlets explaining the two Sullivans and the ranked‑choice process. Voters who remain uncertain can seek assistance at polling locations.
The dismissal ensures that Alaska’s Senate race will be certified without delay, allowing Alaskans to cast their ballots with confidence that the process will be respected.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
