The state says a lawsuit challenging the mechanism that allowed two Alaska gubernatorial candidates to merge their campaigns would derail the November election and potentially disenfranchise voters if it succeeds.
The state’s position is detailed in court documents filed this week ahead of oral arguments set for Friday in the lawsuit against Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and elections director Gail Fenumiai.
The lawsuit filed last week by an Alaska Republican Party district chair, Steve Strait, challenges an emergency ruling that allowed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Byron Mallott to join campaigns with independent gubernatorial candidate bill Walker and run as Walker’s lieutenant governor.
Strait maintains that Treadwell erred in his Sept. 2 decision.
The combined ticket is seen as a stronger challenge to Republican incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell than a three-way race.
