Alaska Supreme Court Allows Imprisoned Candidate to Remain on Ballot

Eric Hafner, serving a 20-year sentence in New York, can run for Alaska's U.S. House seat despite Democratic opposition.

The Alaska Supreme Court rejected the Democratic Party's lawsuit to remove Eric Hafner from the November ballot.
Hafner, a Democrat incarcerated in New York for making bomb threats, has never lived in Alaska.
Democrats argue that Hafner's candidacy could siphon votes from incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola in a tight race against Republican Nick Begich.
Hafner finished sixth in the primary but advanced to the general election after two Republican candidates withdrew.
The court's decision has been criticized for setting a 'dangerous precedent,' allowing incarcerated individuals to run for office.