Here, the DOJ argues that the presence of a presumed spoiler candidate on the ballot, Daniel J. Sullivan, will taint the race by confusing voters who intended to vote for the incumbent Republican senator, Daniel S. Sullivan. It demands that the judge block any certification until an investigation can “determine whether votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant to be cast for Senator Sullivan.”
They do have a bit of point; Republican voters are certainly not the most informed. But don’t the ballots list a candidate’s party beside their name?
Senator Dan Sullivan and opponent Dan Sullivan, not to be confused with Mayor Dan Sullivan, are both running on a Republican ticket. I’ve been watching this unfold for a while and it’s been glorious
Wait, how are two Republicans on the general election ballot? Shouldn’t one of them have been eliminated in the primary?
Looking it up to answer my own question (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Alaska):
In 2020, Alaskan voters approved an initiative to implement a nonpartisan blanket top-four primary with a single, open primary where candidates from all parties are listed on the ballot and the top four vote-getters advance to the general election. This system went into effect with the 2022 elections. Prior to this, registered voters in Alaska were given a choice between three primary ballots reflecting a semi-closed primary system. Specifically, Democratic, Libertarian, Alaskan Independence and Independent candidates were listed on one ballot available to all registered voters and Republican candidates were listed on a second ballot available to voters registered as Republican, Nonpartisan or Undeclared. In 2024, Alaskans voted on a measure to repeal the system and return to partisan primaries; the measure narrowly failed to pass.
LMAO, that’s amazing!
Wait, so this alternate Dan Sullivan already placed in the top 4 primary? What the fuck.
Sounds to me like he has legitimate supporters, undermining the Tump lackeys’ “spoiler” argument even more.
Aren’t they both running as Republicans? I thought I heard that in Alaska you get to declare your party and that’s what goes on the ballot, not policing who declares what based on the party’s desires.
Aside from all the insane legal theories, the relief they’re requesting is also insane and quite anti-democratic:
They want an injunction that decertifies the election results but only if the Republican guy loses by less than however many votes the other Dan Sullivan gets.
It’s like, election loss insurance, or something.
