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Alaska state officials have urged a federal judge to permanently dismiss a Trump administration lawsuit that seeks to block certification of the state’s U.S. Senate race results. The filing, submitted on Saturday, argues the case is without legal merit and that the relief the Justice Department demands would violate Alaskan voters’ right to ballot secrecy.
The Lawsuit and Its Claims
The Trump administration filed the lawsuit on October 22, targeting local election officials. It argues that results in the competitive Senate race should not be certified unless Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan is declared the winner. The administration claims that Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited a retired teacher named Dan J. Sullivan to enter the race, deliberately creating voter confusion.
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Peltola has firmly denied any involvement. However, the Trump administration amended its complaint this week, citing a New York Times report that alleged Peltola was aware of the recruitment effort. The Times story relied partly on a former campaign manager who later tried to retract her statements.
Alaska Officials Push Back
In their Saturday filing, Alaska officials challenged the legal standing the federal government claims in the case. They noted that election certification is a state responsibility, not a federal one. They also pointed out that the Alaska Supreme Court approved Dan J. Sullivan’s placement on the ballot months ago.
Officials further criticized the Justice Department’s suggestion to “segregate” ballots that rank Dan J. Sullivan. “This unexplained idea makes no sense,” the filing stated. It added that the proposal was “both disturbing and impossible.” The filing also noted that state officials carefully designed the ballot to minimize voter confusion from the start.
The Alaska attorney general’s office called on the judge to dismiss the lawsuit immediately with prejudice. Officials argued the case represented unwarranted federal interference in a state-run election process.
Candidates Respond Publicly
At a Friday night rally, Peltola addressed the allegations directly. She told supporters she was “so deeply offended” by accusations of involvement in another candidate’s campaign. “I want fewer candidates in the primary. I’m not out soliciting more competition,” she said. She also insisted she did “not need any help” defeating Sullivan.
Meanwhile, Senator Dan S. Sullivan took a sharply different view. In a Saturday Fox News interview, he said there was “no way Peltola doesn’t know about” the recruitment scheme. “It’s deception. But at its worst, it’s disdain for us Alaskans,” he said. “They’re trying to make sure that Alaskans throw away their vote.”
The judge is expected to rule soon on whether to dismiss the Alaska Senate race lawsuit or allow it to proceed. The decision comes just days before Election Day, adding urgency to an already closely watched legal dispute.
