Federal judge blocks DOJ bid to freeze Alaska Senate certification

U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason issued a ruling on Sunday that dismissed the federal government's legal challenge to the Alaska Senate race. The decision strips the Department of Justice of its immediate power to halt the certification of election results if the Republican incumbent, Senator Dan Sullivan, loses to the Democratic challenger.

The administration sought an injunction to prevent state officials from certifying the outcome. The government argued that a preliminary investigation was necessary to determine whether voters were confused by the presence of two candidates with similar names on the ranked-choice ballot. Those candidates are Senator Dan Sullivan and independent candidate Daniel Sullivan Jr.

Gleason determined that the federal government did not have the legal standing to bring the lawsuit. The court noted that the government relied on the preamble of the National Voter Registration Act to establish its claim. Gleason, a nominee of former President Barack Obama, wrote that the requested relief would likely infringe upon the right of Alaskan voters to cast a secret ballot.

"The absence of any explanation from the United States as to how its requested relief could redress its alleged injury while simultaneously maintaining the secrecy of the ballot is telling," Gleason wrote in the decision.

Kiersten Pels, a spokesperson for the Justice Department, told NPR that the agency plans to appeal the ruling. Pels stated that Alaskan voters deserve a fair election rather than being misled in an attempt to rig outcomes. The department maintains that the lawsuit was filed at the direction of President Trump, who cited the naming similarity between the two Sullivan candidates as the primary concern.

Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, characterized the lawsuit as a lawless attempt to throw out election results before ballots were counted. She described the legal action as a reckless waste of taxpayer money aimed at silencing hundreds of thousands of Alaska voters. The ruling came after the Alaska Supreme Court had previously ruled in June that Sullivan Jr. had the right to remain on the ballot.

The dispute has intensified scrutiny on the race following a New York Times report alleging that Democratic operatives recruited Sullivan Jr. to spoil the incumbent's chances. While former Representative Mary Peltola has denied involvement, Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered a state investigation. Dunleavy indicated on October 30 that certification might be delayed or changed if wrongdoing is found. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed an ongoing criminal probe by the Justice Department.

Despite the legal battles, voter participation has continued. Over 86,700 Alaskans cast ballots during the early voting period, according to the state Division of Elections. Senator Dan Sullivan said on Sunday that he will accept the results whether he wins or loses. Voting remains open until Tuesday, Election Day.