Judge dismisses DOJ bid to block Alaska Senate certification; Sullivan says he will accept result
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department’s effort to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, and Sullivan said he will accept the result either way. The department says it plans to appeal, leaving a legal fight over the closely watched race unresolved ahead of Tuesday’s vote.12
TL;DR
Still to come
- The Justice Department said it plans to appeal the dismissal, a step that could extend the legal challenge over certification.
- Alaska voters are scheduled to choose their senator on Nov. 3. If no candidate exceeds 50%, a ranked-choice count is scheduled for Nov. 18, according to DeepTape.
The Justice Department filed its lawsuit less than two weeks before Election Day, arguing that voters could be confused by the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. President Donald Trump said he ordered the department to bring the case. Republicans have raised concerns that the second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., could draw votes from the incumbent; Democrat Mary Peltola has denied involvement in any effort to recruit him.12
Sullivan made his pledge in a CNN interview on Sunday, answering that he would accept the results when asked whether he would do so only if he won. His statement contrasts with the federal effort to prevent certification in the event of his defeat, though the department’s planned appeal means the court dispute is not over.12
Prediction markets on Nov. 2 put Sullivan’s chance of winning at about 27%, indicating that traders see him as an underdog in the race at the centre of the certification dispute. That price concerns the election outcome, not the separate legal question of whether the department can block certification.1M1
Sources
AI-generated from the linked reporting and prediction-market data. Market prices reflect traders’ expectations and can change.