Senator Dan Sullivan (Republican) and former Representative Mary Peltola (Democratic) are candidates for the Alaska Senate.
Kent Nishimura | Javin Botsford | Washington Post | Getty Images
On Friday, a federal judge in Alaska continued his fast-track effort to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to delay certification of the state’s Senate election due to potential voter confusion over the two Dan Sullivans listed on ballots.
Judge Sharon Gleason ordered the Justice Department to respond by 1 p.m. Alaska time Friday to a new motion to dismiss, filed hours after amending the complaint in U.S. District Court in Anchorage on Thursday.
Gleason gave state election officials, Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and other groups until noon Saturday to respond to the Justice Department’s response.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit seeks to delay certification of the Senate race if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan lost by a narrow margin likely due to voter confusion over the presence of another candidate with his name on the ballot.
The judge’s order leaves open the possibility for her to rule on the removal motion by Tuesday, Election Day.
The state and Mr. Peltola’s campaign have asked Mr. Gleason to dismiss the lawsuit by then, arguing that the Justice Department does not have the legal authority to block certification of the election because the candidates on the ballot have the same name.
The winner of the Alaska race could determine which party controls the Senate in January. Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the 100-member House.
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