President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski during a heated Alaska Senate race. He labeled her as one of the worst members of the Senate and criticized the state’s election system.
On Truth Social, Trump called ranked-choice voting a “TOTAL DEMOCRAT SCAM meant to confuse the Voter.” He accused Murkowski of siding with Democrats by opposing a Justice Department lawsuit. “The Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far, Lisa Murkowski, of the Great State of Alaska,” Trump wrote, calling her a “DISGRACE to Alaska and our Country.” He claimed that she benefited from this voting system in the past, suggesting her previous victory was unlikely and describing her win as a “miracle.”
These remarks come as Trump supports Republican Senator Dan Sullivan’s reelection against Democrat Mary Peltola. Trump also alleged, without evidence, that Democrats were attempting to divert votes to Daniel J. Sullivan, a different Republican candidate.
Trump urged Alaskans to vote “YES” on Ballot Measure 2, which aims to repeal ranked-choice voting. He claimed that his administration provided substantial financial benefits to the state of Alaska.
What is Ranked-Choice Voting?
Ranked-choice voting (RCV) allows voters to rank candidates from first to last choice. It differs from traditional voting methods where voters select only one candidate. In RCV, if no candidate receives over 50% of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Those votes then go to the next choice on each ballot until one candidate surpasses the majority threshold.
For instance, if Peltola received 45% of the vote and Sullivan 40%, with two other candidates receiving 10% and 5%, no candidate gets a majority. The lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on second choices until one candidate achieves a majority.
Justice Department Lawsuit Targets Alaska Election
The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit to contest the certification of Alaska’s Senate election results in certain scenarios. The lawsuit focuses on two Republican candidates with similar names, arguing that this might confuse voters under the ranked-choice system.
Trump has acknowledged pushing for the DOJ to pursue this case. Critics argue that determining voter intent retroactively is impractical due to the secret ballot system. Murkowski stated on X that Alaskans are capable of voting for their preferred candidates without federal intervention.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the litigation, stating DOJ aims to ensure that ballots reflect voter intent. He emphasized the lawsuit focuses on federal law and isn’t coordinated with any campaign.
Polls Show Competitive Race Between Sullivan and Peltola
Polling indicates a closely contested race between Sullivan and Peltola. An InsiderAdvantage poll shows Peltola leading Sullivan 50% to 48% in the ranked-choice race. Data for Progress suggests a similar close race, with Peltola at 51% and Sullivan at 49% in a simulated final round. Sullivan’s net favorability has declined to −10, indicating potential challenges in voter perception.