Federal judge dismisses Trump attempt to interfere in Alaska Senate race

A federal judge in Alaska on Sunday dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to separate and preserve certain ballots in the state’s upcoming Senate election, where GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola.

In the last week, Peltola’s campaign has faced scrutiny after The New York Times reported the campaign and other Democrats recruited a candidate — Dan J. Sullivan — to run for the Senate with the same name as the incumbent senator.

Citing potential voter confusion, the Trump administration sought to separate and preserve ballots with votes for Dan J. Sullivan, arguing that if the incumbent loses, it may be because people voted for the other Sullivan by mistake.

In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason voiced concerns about voters’ right to 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.

Later, she added: “Requiring the segregation of ballots cast by voters for Daniel J. Sullivan so that these voters can be further investigated by law enforcement is not a remedy that this Court can or should order as it clearly violate Alaskans’ right to a secret ballot.”

The lawsuit also sought to block the certification of the Senate election if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. On Saturday, the Republican-led state government in Alaska implored a federal judge to prevent that effort in a court filing.

Republicans have criticized Dan J. Sullivan’s presence on the ballot for months, after he won a primary bid to be the fourth candidate on the general election ballot in August. The senator and his GOP allies long accused Democrats of recruiting the second Sullivan, a charge Peltola and her campaign have repeatedly denied.

Last week, the Times report cited on-the-record comments from Peltola’s former campaign manager, who was fired in August, about the campaign’s efforts to recruit a second Dan Sullivan to run for office. The campaign manager and several unnamed sources said operatives from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee joined the effort. Elisa Rios, the campaign manager who was fired, later sought to retract her comments.

On Sunday, the senator called Democrats’ effort “rigged and corrupt” in a CNN interview. He added that no matter the outcome, “I’m going to accept the election results.”