Trump Criticizes Alaska Senate Ballot Over Similar Candidate Names
President Donald Trump expressed concern on Sunday, noting many people might not know the meaning of ‘incumbent’ on the Alaska Senate ballot. He claimed this confusion was due to two candidates with similar names being listed. Trump, before heading to a rally in Michigan, criticized the ballot for featuring Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, whom he supports, alongside Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher.
“They made it very unclear, and I think it’s very unfair,” said Trump. “And then you have ranked choice voting, which is crooked.” He suggested that the incumbent senator should be identified more clearly, using ‘Senator Dan Sullivan’ instead of ‘incumbent’.
Trump’s remarks come amidst a Justice Department lawsuit with Election Day approaching. Newsweek tried to get comments from Alaska’s Division of Elections on Sunday.
Why Trump Focuses on Two Dan Sullivans in Alaska
The ballot identifies Dan S. Sullivan as the incumbent, while listing Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. without a party label. Trump has repeatedly claimed Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy is meant to confuse voters and harm Senator Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola and others.
Trump commented on Sunday that the Democrats placed another Dan Sullivan on the ballot, accusing them of cheating, though he didn’t provide evidence for this claim. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. denied these suggestions, stating his run stems from dissatisfaction with the current representation.
Initially, Alaska election officials removed Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the ballot, citing intentions to mislead voters. He challenged this, and the courts restored him to the ballot.
DOJ Lawsuit Over Alaska Senate Election
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Alaska’s election process, claiming Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s presence could mislead voters. They aim to block certification if Senator Sullivan loses by fewer votes than Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. receives, pending a voter confusion investigation.
Trump took credit for this case, stating he urged the action. However, Attorney General Todd Blanche noted that Justice Department attorneys independently authored the lawsuit, denying coordination with any campaign or candidate.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposes the DOJ lawsuit, arguing the ballot clearly differentiates candidates. Murkowski said, “Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates.” Trump criticized her, calling her “the Republicans’ Worst Senator.”
Trump also criticized Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, saying, “We shouldn’t have rank choice.” In ranked-choice voting, voters rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate gets over 50% of first-choice votes, elimination and redistribution occur until a candidate wins a majority.
Alaska Lawsuit Faces Legal Challenge
The DOJ lawsuit faces a challenge in federal court from two Alaska voters and organizations, arguing the federal government overstepped its bounds. They cited Trump’s remarks as evidence the lawsuit was presidentially influenced and demanded sanctions against DOJ attorneys involved.
Election-law experts and political figures like California Senator Adam Schiff have criticized the DOJ’s legal reasoning. Schiff stated that Alaska manages its own elections, not the federal government.
Why the Alaska Senate Race Matters
The controversy unfolds before the November 3 midterm elections, impacting the Senate’s control. Republicans now hold a 53-47 majority. Peltola aims to be the first Democrat elected from Alaska since 2008.
The contest involves Peltola, Senator Dan S. Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., and Gerald Heikes.