Judge rules against plaintiffs in their attempt to put Tara Sweeney on congressional ballot; they appeal

By
Suzanne Downing
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12

Update: The plaintiffs have appealed the ruling to the Alaska Supreme Court.

An Anchorage Superior Court judge on Friday ruled against an attempt by a group associated with the Sweeney for Congress campaign their quest to add Sweeney’s name to the special general election ballot.

Sweeney finished in fifth place in the special primary election for U.S. House. But then the third-place finisher, Al Gross, suddenly dropped out of contention on Monday, leaving just three names on the special general election ballot for Aug. 16: Sarah Palin, Nick Begich, and fourth-place finisher Mary Peltola.

Superior Court Judge William Morse sided with the Division of Elections, whose director said that nowhere in law does it allow a fifth-place finisher to move onto the ballot, just because someone who made the ballot has requested he or she be removed from the ballot. The decision may be appealed to the Supreme Court, but the Division of Elections is on a strict schedule to get the election certified and to get the ballots for the Aug. 16 ballot printed by the time the law requires.

Meanwhile, Gross had thrown his support to both Sweeney and Peltola, both Alaska Natives.

Sweeney is still technically on the regular primary ballot for the U.S. House, along with 29 other people who are still on the ballot, including Palin, Begich and Peltola. The deadline to withdraw from the regular primary is Saturday.

But as of now, just three are in the special election to fill out the remaining term of the late Congressman Don Young.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Can Tara Sweeney make the ballot? Group files lawsuit asking court to decide that she can

12 COMMENTS

    • Tara Sweeney is a progressive in nobody’s estimation, at least if they are paying attention to what is actually transpired and likely to happen.

  3. Finally! A Superior Court Judge (from Anchorage, no less), deciding a case on legal merits and the rule of law, not Left-wing politics of the day.

  4. Tara Sweeney is now miffed because Begich had no desire to tango with her before the special election! She, however, didn’t care enough about her own supporters to directly challenge the state’s division of elections and insist on being placed on the ballot after Gross left his entourage standing alone in a dark, political corner! The Fates must be looking out for us by culling the “deplorables.” Had Sweeney smeared on bright red lipstick, Begich might have tangoed with her! Hard to say, especially on such a steamy, hot, summer day!

    • Edit: “Had Sweeney smeared on bright red lipstick, might have Begich tangoed with her? Hard to say, especially on such a steamy, hot, summer day!”

    • Edit: “Had Sweeney smeared on bright red lipstick, might have Begich tangoed with her? Hard to say, especially on such a steamy, hot, summer day!”

  5. Whoa! Take that Judge’s name and remember it come retention time! Sorry Tara, a real Judge can only rule on the Law. Hiring big legacy law firms to represent your case isn’t always a winning ticket, we all should take heart.

  6. So the crooks used the left leaning law to stop a future crook. They can’t stop a write in as the people have spoke through the write in option.

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