Alaska Senate Race: Judge to Rule on DOJ Suit by Saturday

A federal judge in Anchorage is expected to rule as early as Saturday on motions to dismiss a Department of Justice lawsuit. The suit seeks to block the certification of the U.S. Senate election if incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses by a narrow margin. This legal battle has intensified in one of the tightest races on the national map, where the outcome could determine Senate control next year.

The conflict stems from a New York Times report claiming Democratic operatives recruited a spoiler candidate to run against Sullivan. Although NPR has not independently verified the report, the allegations are central to the DOJ's case. The state division of elections is one of the parties asking the judge to toss the suit. Meanwhile, Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered a separate state agency to investigate whether the recruitment operation described in the story violated any laws.

Legal experts interviewed in Alaska expressed skepticism about the DOJ's position. Several noted that under state law, a candidate's motives do not matter. One law professor described the case as a press release dressed up as a lawsuit, predicting it would not have legal legs. The Justice Department has also launched a parallel criminal investigation, though it has not specified the potential crimes under review.

Voters in the state are reacting to the allegations with mixed emotions. Supporters of Democratic challenger Mary Peltola told Alaska Public Media that they dislike the described strategy but intend to vote for her. Some argued that the Republican response is hypocritical, citing past actions by the party. Amber McClelland, a Democrat in Anchorage, said recruiting a candidate to draw votes away from an opponent should not be a common tactic.

McClelland noted, "It's kind of messed up, but in the past, Republicans have done everything that they can do to win, including cheat." Her comment referenced several recent episodes where Republican-aligned groups promoted third-party or independent candidates. This year, a Republican-aligned group spent significant money to place a Green Party candidate from Arizona on the ballot, though he did not survive the primary. Two years ago, the state Republican Party went to court to defend the right of Eric Hafner, a federal prison inmate, to run for U.S. House as a Democrat.

This year, a Republican-affiliated super PAC attempted to get Hafner's mother on the Senate ballot as a Democratic spoiler, but she also lost in the primary. A spokesman for the Republican National Committee argued that the current situation is unique because the alleged spoiler shares the same name as the incumbent, Senator Sullivan. He claimed the goal was to confuse voters rather than simply split the opposition vote.

President Trump, who flew to Alaska to campaign for Sullivan, has weighed in on the developments. Peltola is trying to keep the campaign focus on affordability but has had to address the allegations directly. Last night, she spoke at a bar in Juneau, the state capital, where she said she knew nothing about other candidates on the ballot except herself and the incumbent.

Peltola stated, "I am not interested in tricking voters." She continues to campaign this weekend. Senator Sullivan responded on Fox News, calling Peltola a liar and a cheater. The race remains close enough that the final days of campaigning are shaping how both candidates frame the dispute for the public.

The outcome of the judge's ruling on Saturday will determine whether the DOJ's effort to block certification moves forward or is dismissed. If the suit is dismissed, the standard process for counting and certifying votes will proceed. The parallel criminal investigation remains open without a public timeline.