Politics
• Analysis
Trump Lawsuit Over Alaska Senate Race Seeks to Delay Election Certification if Dan Sullivan Loses
In the escalating Trump lawsuit over the Alaska Senate race, the administration's Justice Department asked a federal judge in Anchorage on Thursday to block certification of the November 3 result if incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan narrowly loses to Democrat Mary Peltola.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 24, 2026
• 3 Min Read
What the DOJ asks the court to do
The DOJ lawsuit over the Alaska Senate race, filed in federal court in Anchorage on Thursday, names state and local election officials as defendants. The administration is seeking to preemptively stop Alaska from certifying its Senate race result if the incumbent Republican loses narrowly.
The filing rests on the presence of a second Republican on the ballot. The suit argues that Dan J. Sullivan Jr is running "with the intention of misleading supporters of Senator Sullivan into voting for him".
The DOJ asks a judge to block certification of any outcome "that may be impacted by voter confusion" and to order an investigation into whether votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant to be cast for Senator Sullivan.
- •The suit names the state and local election officials as defendants
- •It asks the court to block certification of a result affected by voter confusion
- •It asks the court to order an investigation into votes cast for the challenger
A DOJ spokesperson said the agency is taking "necessary steps to ensure that this frivolous candidacy does not undermine the integrity of Alaska's election or the will of its voters".
The case of the two Sullivans
The challenger, Dan J. Sullivan Jr, is a former US Forest Service worker and elementary school teacher who filed to run on May 29. His campaign website advertised "Dan Sullivan Challenges Dan Sullivan for US Senate Seat". In interviews with US news outlets, he has denied that his aim is to cause confusion or divert votes from the senator.
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled on the dispute in June, permitting the challenger Sullivan to appear on the ballot without a party designation, while the senator is listed as the Republican incumbent.
Reactions from Peltola, Murkowski and legal experts
Mary Peltola told MS NOW on Friday that "there just isn't much room for confusion" on the ballot, and said the suit sends a message that Dan Sullivan does not believe Alaskans are sophisticated enough to know who they are voting for.
"there just isn't much room for confusion"
Fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said on Friday that in her view the Justice Department "should never have filed this lawsuit".
Election law experts said the suit is without merit and seeks a remedy federal law does not allow. Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller wrote that the legal argument ranks among the worst he has seen, and that the move is designed to win the press release rather than the litigation. David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research said the administration has no authority over when or how Alaska certifies its Senate results, and that the issue has already been fully litigated by Alaska's courts.
Stakes in the midterm elections
The DOJ action targets the November 3 midterm elections, which will decide control of the US Congress, where Republicans narrowly control both chambers. Incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan is running a close race against Democrat Mary Peltola, and control of the Senate could come down to Alaska.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had instructed his administration to file the lawsuit, telling reporters, "I'm the one that said do it".
Election officials around the country have said they are preparing for potential federal interference in the elections, including legal challenges that could disrupt certification.
