Alaska asks court to reverse election ruling

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Latest on a lawsuit affecting Democratic party primaries in Alaska (all times local):

11:15 a.m.

An attorney for the state of Alaska says it would be confusing and “deceptive” to call a candidate nonpartisan if that person is a nominee for a political party.

Laura Fox made that argument Thursday in asking the Alaska Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that cleared the way for independents to run in Democratic party primaries.

Independent is a general term that describes individuals who are registered as nonpartisan or undeclared.

The court did not immediately rule.

The Alaska Democratic Party challenged a state law requiring that primary election candidates be registered members of the party whose nomination they’re seeking. A Superior Court judge said the state was restricting their attempt to appeal to independent voters by not allowing unaffiliated candidates to participate in Democratic primaries.

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10:25 p.m.

The state wants the Alaska Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that cleared the way for independents to run in Democratic party primaries. The issue has implications for this year’s elections.

Arguments are scheduled for Thursday.

The Alaska Democratic Party had challenged a state law requiring that primary election candidates be registered members of the party whose nomination they’re seeking. A superior court judge last fall ruled the state was restricting Democrats’ attempt to appeal to independent voters by not allowing unaffiliated candidates to participate in Democratic primaries.

The decision applies to the Democratic primary, since that party changed its rules to embrace independent candidates.

So far, at least one candidate plans to run as an independent in the Democratic primary: Alyse Galvin, in the U.S. House race.

AP-WF-03-29-18 1916GMT

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