Judge signals skepticism of the Justice Department's suit to block certification in Alaska's Senate race
Judge Sharon Gleason noted the government sued after voting began and months after Alaska's top court put Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot. Sen. Adam Schiff says the case has "no chance."
U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason signaled considerable skepticism of the Justice Department's legal strategy in her first order in its Alaska Senate case on Monday, ABC News reported. Gleason pointed to timing, noting the United States filed on Oct. 22, after Alaskans had begun voting and nearly four months after the Alaska Supreme Court ordered Daniel J. Sullivan placed on the ballot, according to ABC News. She plans to rule by 5 p.m. local time Wednesday on requests from outside parties to join the case.
The department wants to stop certification if Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola but would have won had all votes for Daniel J. Sullivan gone to him under ranked choice tabulation, ABC News reported. President Trump said Friday he had directed the department to file the suit, citing confusion between the names, and Republicans allege Daniel J. Sullivan is running a sham campaign to draw votes from the incumbent, according to ABC News. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and his campaign deny that, Fox News reported.
Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, told NBC News on Sunday that the department has no standing in a dispute state courts already settled, accused Attorney General Todd Blanche of joining a "disgraceful campaign" and predicted the suit has "no chance" of success, Fox News reported. Iowa Democratic governor nominee Rob Sand criticized alleged Democratic efforts to boost the unaffiliated candidate, telling Fox News, "Neither party should be doing it."
What is established
- The Justice Department filed on Oct. 22, after Alaska voting had begun.
- Gleason will decide on intervention requests by Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. Alaska time.
- No hearing date had been reported as of Monday night, ABC News said.
- Alaska uses ranked choice voting in general elections.
What each side says
Certification should be blocked if Sullivan loses narrowly and votes for the similarly named candidate would have changed the result.
The department has no standing, and the suit has "no chance" of success.
Boosting a same name candidate manipulates the system, and "Neither party should be doing it."
How it was covered
Left 1 report
ABC News led with the judge's skepticism and the timing of the filing.
Center No reports
Right 1 report
Fox News carried Schiff's criticism alongside a Democratic nominee who faulted his own party over the alleged effort to boost Daniel J. Sullivan.