The Alaska Democratic Party is challenging the candidacy of Democrat Eric Hafner, who is imprisoned in New York state and isn’t a resident of Alaska.
A state judge will rule as soon as Monday whether a man imprisoned in New York state will remain a candidate for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat.
In the general election, voters are asked to rank the candidates in order of preference, one through four, with a fifth option for a write-in, if wanted.If no one receives more than half of the first-preference votes, the lowest finisher is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate have their votes go for their second preference.Presidential elections do not have a top-four primary. Voters in November may be asked to rank more than four candidates for president.
Among the Democratic Party’s arguments is that the U.S. Constitution requires a candidate to be an “inhabitant” of the relevant state “when elected,” and because Hafner isn’t scheduled for release from prison until 2036, that cannot happen.“However unlikely these scenarios may be, the Court cannot say — particularly without evidence — whether Mr. Hafner might be released, pardoned, successful on appeal, or otherwise free to become an inhabitant of Alaska some other way,” the brief stated.
Responding on Friday, attorneys for the state said that the party is misreading state law and that a candidate becomes a fifth-place finisher when the previous fifth-place finisher gets promoted following a withdrawal. If the party’s attorneys convince Wheeles that Hafner is not an eligible candidate, they must also convince him that the harm caused by removing Hafner’s name from the ballot is less than the harm from keeping it.
Politics 2024 Alaska Election Eric Hafner
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Arguments are Monday in lawsuit that could upend Alaska’s U.S. House ballotThe Alaska Democratic Party is challenging the candidacy of Democrat Eric Hafner, who is imprisoned in New York state and isn’t a resident of Alaska .
Read more »
Rainy weather shifts from Western Alaska to the Gulf of AlaskaUp to 3 inches of rain is possible through Prince William Sound by Thursday morning
Read more »
Alaska Art Alliance helps get people off the street and making artThe Alaska Art Alliance helps Alaska Native Carvers earn an income and sell their wares.
Read more »
Economic impacts of mining in Alaska include wages, taxes and career training, report saysAlaska’s mining industry supported 11,800 jobs and $1.1 billion in total wages in 2023, according to a report commissioned by the Alaska Miners Association and Alaska Metals Mines.
Read more »
Joint force effort helped ease burden left behind in Juneau floodingDamage from the recent record-breaking flooding in Juneau was so widespread it prompted the mobilization of state resources from the Alaska Organized Militia - including the Alaska Air and Army National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State Defense Force to assist in recovery efforts.
Read more »
Closing arguments to begin in Santa Fe civil trial against accused gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis’ parentsAs the civil trial against the parents of accused Santa Fe High School gunman Dimitrios Pagourtzis nears its conclusion, the courtroom has been filled with emotional testimonies from the families of the victims. The parents are accused of failing to recognize signs of their son's mental illness and allowing him access to firearms.
Read more »