Federal judge throws out DOJ’s lawsuit asking to segregate ballots in Alaska Senate race

ALASKA REPUBLICAN SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN SAYS HE'LL ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF HIS RACE AGAINST DEMOCRAT MARY PELTOLA TOMORROW, EVEN IF HE LOSES. BUT HE'S STILL ACCUSING DEMOCRATS OF TRYING TO STEAL THE ELECTION. SULLIVAN MADE THE COMMENT SUNDAY ON CNN AS A CONTROVERSY OVER ANOTHER CANDIDATE WITH HIS SAME NAME CONTINUES TO GROW. WHEN ASKED IF HE'D ACCEPT THE RESULTS IF ONLY HE WINS, HERE'S WHAT HE TOLD JAKE TAPPER. No, I'm going to accept the election results. It is a breathtaking smoking gun. that Peltola, her team, Schumer, his team had as their first order of business. So what I say to Alaskans is don't let them get away with the tricks. Get out the vote. Vote for the honest senator. We have truth on our side, Jake. We have truth on our side and that's why I'm going to win. As you'll recall, there are two Dan Sullivans running for Senate in Alaska. One is the incumbent Republican. The other is a retired teacher named Dan J. Sullivan. And Republicans say the second Sullivan is on the ballot to confuse voters and take votes away from the senator. The New York Times reported last week that former aides to Peltola and Democratic Senate operatives were involved in recruiting him. Peltola denies knowing about the effort. Her campaign also denies any involvement. And over the weekend, a federal judge threw out the Trump administration's lawsuit over the ballot controversy. The Justice Department wanted votes for the second Sullivan set aside for investigation and sought to block certification of the election if the Republican senator loses. But Judge Sharon Gleason ruled Sunday that the government's request would violate voters' right to a secret ballot. The Justice Department has already appealed. Peltola's campaign calls the lawsuit baseless, saying it won't stop Alaskans from choosing their next senator. Both Sullivans remain on tomorrow's ballot, and Alaska's ranked-choice system Allows voters to rank their preferred candidates.