gordon epperly filed an objection to obama's placement on the ballot, writing, "as barack hussein obama ii is of the 'mulatto' race, his status of citizenship is founded upon the fourteenth amendment to the united states constitution. before the [purported] ratification of the fourteenth amendment, the race of 'negro' or 'mulatto' had no standing to be citizens of the united states under the united states constitution." the challenge was rejected as alaska was not going to use a primary election to select delegates for the democratic party.