Judge blocks Trump bid to freeze Alaska Senate count

Federal Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit on Sunday, ruling that the government lacks the legal standing to intervene in Alaska's upcoming Senate race.

The administration sought an order to prevent state officials from certifying election results. The goal was to pause the process while an investigation examined whether voters were confused by two candidates with similar names on the ranked-choice ballot.

Gleason, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, found that the government's request did not explain how it would resolve the alleged injury without violating the right to a secret ballot.

The judge wrote that the lack of explanation from the United States regarding how to maintain ballot secrecy was telling.

The core of the dispute involves the presence of two candidates with similar surnames on the ballot: incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and non-partisan Daniel Sullivan Jr.

President Trump stated he ordered the lawsuit because the similar names could mislead voters. The Justice Department filed the suit citing the preamble of the National Voter Registration Act.

Kiersten Pels, a Justice Department spokesperson, told NPR the agency plans to appeal the ruling. Pels said Alaskan voters deserve a fair election and should not be misled in an attempt to rig outcomes.

Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, praised the decision in a statement. She called the Justice Department's attempt to throw out results before ballots were counted lawless and a reckless waste of taxpayer money.

The controversy follows an earlier state court battle where Republicans tried to keep Sullivan Jr. off the ballot. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that Sullivan Jr. had the right to run.

Republican claims that Democrats are supporting Sullivan Jr. to spoil the incumbent's chances have intensified after a New York Times report detailed efforts by Democratic operatives to recruit him.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered a state investigation. He told NewsNation on Oct. 30 that if wrongdoing is found, the certification of results may be stopped or changed.

U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman announced an ongoing criminal probe by the Justice Department during a press conference in Anchorage on Oct. 30. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola has denied any involvement in the recruitment of Sullivan Jr. as she said she would accept the results, win or lose, in a CNN interview on Sunday. Over 86,700 Alaskans have cast early ballots, and voting continues through Tuesday.