Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski will be sworn in as Alaska’s Senator come January. According to the state, the results of Murkowski’s race with Joe Miller for the seat were certified Tuesday by the State Division of Elections.
Governor Sean Parnell will officially sign certification papers for a U.S. Senator Thursday.
U.S. District court Judge Ralph Beistline ruled on Joe Miller’s suit against the State Division of Elections Tuesday, dismissing Miller’s challenge to the results of the Nov. 2 election and upholding a prior appeals decision by the Alaska Supreme Court.
In his ruling, Beistline said that he did agree with Miller on one point, and that was the varying interpretation of the state statue regarding the manner in which U.S. Senate elections are to be conducted. Although Beistline upheld the interpretation of the statute by the Alaska Supreme Court, he wrote that the statute was poorly drafted and suggested the Alaska legislature should act to clarify it. Treadwell says when the legislative session begins, the elections division will move on that advice.
The governor’s certification of the election must be received in Washington, DC by Jan. 3.
Photo by Patrick Yack, APRN – Anchorage: In September, Senator Lisa Murkowski announces that she will begin a write-in campaign.
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