Alaska Senate lawsuit: Judge orders DOJ to quickly respond to new dismissal motions - CNBC

A federal judge in Alaska on Friday kept on a fast track efforts to dismiss a Department of Justice lawsuit that seeks to delay certification of the state's U.S. Senate election because of possible voter confusion over two Dan Sullivans on the ballot.

Judge Sharon Gleason ordered the DOJ to respond by 1 p.m. Alaska Time Friday to the new dismissal motions, which were filed hours after the department amended its complaint in U.S. District Court in Anchorage on Thursday.

Gleason gave state election officials, the campaign of Democratic nominee Mary Peltola, and other groups until noon Saturday to reply to the DOJ's response.

The DOJ's suit seeks to delay certification of the Senate election if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses by a margin that could be attributable to voter confusion over the presence of another candidate with his name on the ballot.

The judge's order leaves open the possibility that she will rule on the dismissal motions before Tuesday, which is Election Day.

The state and Peltola's campaign have asked Gleason to dismiss the case before then, arguing the DOJ has no legal authority to block certification of an election because candidates on a ballot share the same name.

The winner of Alaska's race could determine which party holds a majority in the Senate in January. Republicans currently have 53 seats in the 100-member chamber.

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