Alaska Election Lawsuit Draws Backlash

The Justice Department sued Alaska election officials to block certification of the Senate result if Republican Sen. Dan S. SullivanDan SullivanUnited States Senator from Alaska loses and would have won had votes for Daniel J. SullivanDan J. SullivanAmerican teacher and political candidate (1957–) gone to him. The department says Daniel J. Sullivan entered the race to confuse voters and divert votes from the incumbent. President Trump said he personally directed the lawsuit. The race includes Democratic candidate Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAmerican politician (born 1973) and Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, and could affect Senate control. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, where voters can rank both Sullivans, and the ballot labels the incumbent as a Republican. Peltola, Sen. Lisa MurkowskiLisa MurkowskiUnited States Senator from Alaska since 2002, Democratic groups, voting-rights groups and voters opposed the case. The case remained pending.