Judge dismisses federal lawsuit over similarly named candidates in Alaska Senate race

A federal judge in Alaska on Sunday, Nov. 1, dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking special handling of ballots in the state’s upcoming Senate election. The case centered on the presence of Dan J. Sullivan on a ballot that also includes Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola.

The administration argued that voters could confuse the two Sullivan candidates and asked that ballots marked for Dan J. Sullivan be separated and preserved. It contended that an eventual defeat for the incumbent could result from voters mistakenly choosing the other candidate. The lawsuit also sought to prevent certification of the Senate election if the senator lost.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason raised concerns about the implications for ballot secrecy. In her ruling, she said the federal government had not explained how its proposed remedy would address the alleged harm while protecting voters’ right to cast a secret ballot. Separating ballots so that people who voted for Daniel J. Sullivan could be investigated by law enforcement would violate that right, she wrote.

Alaska’s Republican-led state government had urged the court in a Saturday filing to reject the attempt to block certification. After Sunday’s ruling, a Justice Department spokesperson said the department planned to file a notice of appeal. The spokesperson characterized the dismissal as procedural and maintained that the court had not disputed the government’s argument that the second Sullivan entered the race to confuse voters.

Republicans have objected to Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy for months. He secured the fourth spot on the general election ballot through the August primary. The senator and Republican allies have repeatedly alleged that Democrats recruited him because he shares the incumbent’s name, an accusation Peltola and her campaign have repeatedly denied.

The controversy drew renewed scrutiny during the preceding week after The New York Times reported that Peltola’s campaign and other Democrats had worked to recruit a second Dan Sullivan. The report cited statements made on the record by Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager, who was fired in August. Rios and several unnamed sources said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee operatives participated in the effort. Rios later sought to retract her comments.

President Donald Trump also weighed in Sunday through a Truth Social post. He claimed that the second Sullivan could not be located, including by law enforcement, and accused him of having committed a criminal act.

In a CNN interview Sunday, Sen. Sullivan described the Democrats’ effort as “rigged and corrupt.” He nevertheless said he would accept the election’s outcome, telling the network, “I’m going to accept the election results.”