A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration's attempt to preemptively block the certification of Alaska's Senate election results, dealing a significant setback to the administration's efforts ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
US District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled that the Justice Department lacked the necessary standing in its lawsuit, which sought to compel Alaska to segregate ballots if Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan lost his reelection bid to Democratic candidate Mary Peltola. The lawsuit had argued that another candidate, Daniel J Sullivan, had entered the race as a "frivolous candidate to confuse voters."
The Justice Department is appealing the ruling, but it remains unclear if any substantial action will be taken before Election Day. The race has attracted considerable attention due to the presence of two candidates with nearly identical names, raising concerns that Daniel J Sullivan might act as a spoiler by splitting Republican support.
Judge Gleason stated that segregating ballots would violate voters' right to privacy and the secrecy of the ballot, and that the Justice Department had offered "no workable plan" to achieve the requested relief while maintaining ballot secrecy. She denied the administration's request to further amend its complaint, deeming it futile and burdensome for election officials with the election just days away.
The judge also noted that increased scrutiny of ballots could discourage voter participation. This dismissal is among a series of defeats for the Trump administration's attempts to assert greater federal control over midterm elections, efforts that state and local officials argue infringe upon states' rights to administer elections.
Separately, the Justice Department launched a criminal investigation last month into the campaign of the second Daniel Sullivan, though the specifics of that probe remain unclear. Peltola's campaign and the national Democratic Party have denied any connection to Daniel J Sullivan's candidacy.