Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'

Key Points:

• Alaska's Republican state government has urged a federal judge to dismiss a DOJ lawsuit aimed at halting the certification of Democrat Mary Peltola's possible U.S. Senate win, calling the case "meritless."
• The DOJ alleges voter confusion due to a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot, requesting ballots be separated to investigate potential vote-wasting, but Alaska officials argue this would violate voter privacy and is impractical.
• The lawsuit follows reports suggesting Peltola's campaign may have recruited the second Sullivan as a spoiler, though Peltola denies involvement and Alaska notes the two candidates are clearly distinguished on the ballot.
• Alaska's Republican governor and state officials have condemned the second Sullivan's presence but maintain he met legal requirements to remain on the ballot, emphasizing that federal courts should not interfere in state election processes.
• Voting rights groups and Peltola's campaign also support dismissing the case, warning against federal overreach under the guise of "election integrity" that could undermine democratic processes.