The Alaska Supreme Court has rejected the Alaska Democratic Party's attempt to remove an imprisoned congressional candidate from the November ballot.
The Washington Examiner reported that Eric Hafner, a Democrat currently serving a 20-year sentence in New York, will be allowed to run for Alaska's sole House seat.
This decision comes as a blow to the Alaska Democratic Party, which had filed a lawsuit against state election officials in an effort to disqualify Hafner. The party expressed disappointment with the court's ruling, citing concerns about Hafner's lack of residency in Alaska and his criminal background.
The court's decision could potentially influence the outcome of what is shaping up to be one of the nation's most closely watched congressional races. Incumbent Representative Mary Peltola, a Democrat, is facing a strong challenge from Republican Nick Begich, who has the backing of the state GOP.
Recent polling data shared by the National Republican Congressional Committee indicates that Peltola and Begich are in a dead heat. With such a tight race, every vote counts, and Hafner's presence on the ballot as a Democratic candidate could potentially siphon crucial votes away from Peltola.
Despite finishing sixth in the August primary, Hafner's inclusion on the final ballot could impact Peltola's reelection chances. Even if Hafner garners only a small percentage of votes, in such a close race, it could be enough to tip the scales in Begich's favor.
The Alaska Democratic Party has not minced words in expressing its dissatisfaction with the court's decision. In a statement released on social media platform X, the party criticized the ruling and raised concerns about the precedent it sets.
The party's statement read:
We are extremely disappointed by the Alaska Supreme Court ruling, allowing Eric Hafner to remain on the ballot. Hafner, who does not live in Alaska and has never lived in Alaska, is incarcerated in New York for making bomb threats against elected officials.
Democrats argue that allowing a candidate who has never resided in Alaska to run for office sets a dangerous precedent and is embarrassing for the state. They emphasize Hafner's current incarceration and the nature of his crimes as further reasons for their opposition to his candidacy.
Eric Hafner is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in New York, with 15 years remaining on his term. He was convicted of making bomb threats against New Jersey officials, a fact that the Alaska Democratic Party has been quick to highlight in their objections to his candidacy.
In a recent interview with KBRD, a local Alaskan radio station, Hafner provided insight into his motivations for running in a state he has never visited. He stated, "Ultimately, if I'm elected, I expect to be released immediately at that point. There's a federal statute under compassionate release that says you could be released for extraordinary compelling reasons."
This is not Hafner's first attempt at running for Congress. He has previously campaigned in Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District in 2016 and in Oregon in 2018. In these prior races, Hafner has made controversial claims and identified himself with various activist movements.
The Alaska Supreme Court's decision to allow Eric Hafner, an incarcerated candidate, to remain on the November ballot for Alaska's sole House seat has sparked controversy. The Alaska Democratic Party's lawsuit to remove Hafner was rejected, potentially impacting the tight race between incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican challenger Nick Begich. Democrats have expressed disappointment and concern over the ruling, citing Hafner's lack of Alaska residency and criminal background. Hafner, serving a 20-year sentence in New York, sees his potential election as a path to early release through compassionate release statutes.
