Mixed ballots make voter identities impossible to determine as judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit over Alaska Senate election

Judge cites ballot secrecy

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the lawsuit in an order issued Sunday. The Justice Department had sought to halt certification if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan lost and to investigate whether votes for retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan were intended for the senator.

Gleason wrote that many voters had already cast ballots and those ballots had been commingled. She said the government offered no workable way to separate ballots cast for Daniel J. Sullivan on Election Day and investigate them while protecting voter secrecy.

Dispute over second Sullivan

The retired teacher is listed as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.; the senator appears as Dan S. Sullivan and is identified as the Republican incumbent. The teacher has maintained that he entered the race independently.

Republicans have suspected that former congresswoman Mary Peltola and her campaign helped put the second Sullivan on the ballot. A New York Times report, citing interviews, text messages and campaign finance records, said an operative seeking decoy candidates was paid by a group supporting Peltola. Peltola and her campaign have denied involvement.

Candidates respond to allegations

Peltola called the controversy a distraction from issues including high prices tied to the war in Iran, launched by Republican Donald Trump. Sen. Sullivan said he doubted her claim that she did not know her aides were involved in recruiting the retired teacher, and said he expected the second candidate to affect the result. Asked whether he would urge Alaska not to certify a Peltola victory, Sullivan hesitated before saying, “I’m going to accept the results of the election.” He said he would leave questions about possible crimes to lawyers.

Political and legal fallout

Trump directed the Justice Department to sue over certification of a potential Peltola win and later called for her prosecution. Federal agents went to Alaska to issue subpoenas, while the state’s Republican governor ordered an investigation and suggested he might refuse to certify a Peltola victory. Both candidates spent the final days campaigning across Alaska.