Trump Says He Ordered DOJ Lawsuit Over Alaska Senate Ballot
publishers 23articles 24first reported 22 Oct, 14:56 UTCdeveloping since 23 Oct · 9 editions
President Donald Trump said Friday that he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over the state’s U.S. Senate election, seeking to prevent or delay certification if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan narrowly loses.
The federal lawsuit, filed Thursday, argues that voters could be confused because another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., is also on the November 3 ballot. The department contends that votes mistakenly cast for the second Sullivan could undermine the integrity of the result. Trump told reporters during a visit to Florida, “I’m the one that said ‘do it,’” and alleged that Democrats had arranged Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy.
Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service employee, has denied entering the race to confuse voters. Alaska election officials initially disqualified him, but state courts overturned that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court allowed him to remain on the ballot in June.
The ballot identifies the senator as “Sullivan, Dan S,” a registered Republican and the incumbent. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is listed separately and without a party designation. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in its general election.
Sen. Sullivan is seeking a third term against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and two other candidates. Peltola led the August primary with 49.5 percent of the vote, while the incumbent received about 41 percent. The federal case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 28 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 23
- Source articles
- 24
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 28 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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