The Alaska Supreme Court on Saturday upheld a lower court’s ruling that will keep Republican Tara Sweeney off the ballot for the August special election in Alaska’s U.S. House race.
In a brief written order, the high court said it affirmed the decision of Superior Court Judge William Morse, who agreed with a decision by Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai to not advance Sweeney, the fifth place finisher in the June 11 special primary, to the special election after the third place finisher suddenly dropped out.
The court did not elaborate on its reasoning but said a full opinion will follow at a later date. Morse on Friday ruled in favor of the elections division. The decision was appealed by the plaintiffs in the case.
Forty-eight candidates ran in the special primary for Alaska’s House seat, which was left vacant by the death in March of Republican Rep. Don Young, who held the seat for 49 years.
The special primary was the first election held under a system approved by Alaska voters that ends party primaries and institutes ranked-choice voting in general elections.
In this case, the top four vote-getters due to advance to the special election were Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich, independent Al Gross and Democrat Mary Peltola. That changed when Gross abruptly withdrew Tuesday.
Any bets as to whether a Democrat would have been advanced under the same circumstances?
48 candidates ran for the empty seat? This reeks of democrat/RINO dirty tricks.
Here in The Soviet of Washington, they did away with party primaries, and have top-two going to general election. Pretty much killed and hope for conservatives …
@Tony R, that’s how California got Gov. Ahnold, who only plays a conservative in the movies.
“Ranked choice” guarantees Democrat or RINO wins.
I hope Palin walks away with it. 70% of the vote!
Cheater lost, good!