Fastrack · Blanche Clashes With Bash Over Alaska Election Fraud Claims

Attorney General Todd Blanche and CNN's Dana Bash clashed Sunday over the Justice Department's lawsuit targeting Alaska's Senate election.

Two Sullivans are on the ballot: Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Daniel J. Sullivan.
The suit seeks to halt certification pending a probe into misdirected votes.
Alaska courts ruled Daniel J. Sullivan could stay on the ballot.
Trump said he personally directed the department to file the suit.

Why it matters: Cook Political Report rates the race between Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola a toss-up. Blanche argued voters will be confused and their votes not heard.

Bash cited Article I, Section 4, which leaves election rules to states.
Blanche pointed to the next clause letting Congress regulate elections by law.
Asked about a repeat of Jan. 6, Blanche said, "You gotta stop it with that."

The story so far

33 steps · since Oct 9

Oct 9
Oct 11Justice Department Threatens California Over Alleged Noncitizen Voters46 sources
Oct 13–14
Oct 146:27 PMJustice Department Sues California Over Alleged Noncitizen Mail Ballots59 sources
Oct 15–19
Oct 199:45 AMDOJ Charges 28 Over Alleged Noncitizen Voting in California56 sources
Oct 20–22
Oct 234:53 AMTrump Admin Moves to Block Alaska Senate Result If Sullivan Loses77 sources
Oct 23–24
Oct 25Blanche Clashes With Bash Over Alaska Election Fraud ClaimsYou are hereLatest

How 11 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 11 sources

11 sources · 12 articles · 46% Right coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether Bash's Jan. 6 question was a fair test of the lawsuit's aims or a baseless provocation.

Center coverage, 4 sources: The center sees a heated interview over a lawsuit that could delay certification in a toss-up race.

USA Today1h'You gotta stop!' Blanche, CNN's Bash spar in fiery interview Fortune44mWith Senate control at stake, attorney general defends Trump's lawsuit to block certification of Alaska race if the GOP candidate loses | Fortune NPR1hBlanche defends DOJ lawsuit blocking Alaska Senate results if Republican loses PBS NewsHour46mBlanche says Trump isn't trying to meddle with Alaska election results by suing over Senate race

Left coverage, 2 sources: The left sees an attorney general dodging whether Trump is preparing to contest the midterms.

Raw Story2h'Twitchy' Blanche skewered for ignoring 'most serious question' of our time in interview Salon57m"You are not being a real person!": Blanche erupts over election concerns

Right coverage, 5 sources: The right sees Blanche correcting a CNN host's selective constitutional reading and rejecting a loaded Jan. 6 premise.

PJ Media6hTodd Blanche Humiliates Dana Bash After She Tries to School Him on the Constitution RedState6h'That's Not a Real Question!': Blanche Torches Dana Bash for Insane Remark on Next 'January 6'Conservative Treehouse1hAttorney General Todd Blanche -vs- CBS Margaret Brennan, Video and Transcript - The Last Refuge The Daily Caller2h‘Oh, Stop It!’: Todd Blanche Cuts Off Dana Bash’s Speculating How Trump Admin’s Election Lawsuit Could Lead To Another Jan 6 Twitchy8hSHE MAD: Dana Bash Tries SHAMING AG Blanche With the Constitution and HOOBOY Was THAT Dumb (Watch)

What’s next: A federal court in Alaska will consider the department's request. Blanche said Alaska courts should decide whether the law was broken.

Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said Blanche dismissed the most serious question facing democracy.
Will the court block certification if Sen. Sullivan loses?
Did confusion over the two names measurably change votes?