The Trump administration has sued Alaska in an effort to delay the certification of its Senate election results. The legal action focuses on a race between Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola. It also involves a retired teacher named Daniel J. Sullivan, who is running under the same name.
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit in federal court in Alaska on Thursday. It wants officials to delay certification until an investigation can determine whether voters confused the two candidates.
The case has drawn attention because the Senate race could affect the balance of power in Washington. Republicans fear that votes meant for the sitting senator could go to the other candidate and change the result.
The dispute also raises questions about Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system and the role of federal officials in state election procedures.
Trump Says He Ordered the Lawsuit
President Donald Trump said Friday that he had directed the Justice Department to file the case against Alaska. While speaking to reporters, he explained the dispute to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who stood beside him.
Trump called Daniel J. Sullivan the “fake” candidate. The retired teacher has rejected claims that his campaign is a sham.
A Justice Department spokesperson said Alaska’s Division of Elections had found that the teacher’s candidacy was intended to mislead voters and harm the fairness of the ballot.
The department said it was acting under the National Voter Registration Act to protect election integrity and voters’ choices. The White House directed questions about the case to the Justice Department.
The lawsuit argues that voter confusion could affect the result if Senator Sullivan loses. It says the outcome might have been different if votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan had instead gone to the incumbent and the state’s ranked-choice process had then continued.
The department is asking the court to block certification while officials investigate how voters intended to cast those ballots.
Two Candidates Share the Sullivan Name
The retired teacher will appear on the ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The Alaska Supreme Court ordered election officials to include him in the race in June.
The incumbent senator will appear as “Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent.” Officials use the different names and ballot details to identify each candidate.
The controversy began as Republicans questioned whether the second Sullivan’s campaign could confuse voters. The teacher has said his candidacy is legitimate. Peltola’s campaign has also denied any involvement in his decision to run.
The legal dispute is complicated by Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. Under this process, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than half of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed. Votes are then transferred based on voters’ next choices until a winner emerges.
The administration argues that votes cast for the two Sullivans could affect the final outcome under this system.
A Close Race Draws National Attention
The Senate contest is among several races drawing close attention as Democrats seek gains in states that usually favor Republicans.
In the primary, the incumbent Sullivan received about 41% of the vote. Peltola won 49.5%, while Daniel J. Sullivan received around 2.5%.
Those results have added to concerns that the second Sullivan’s presence could influence the final contest. The Justice Department’s lawsuit says there is a realistic chance that his candidacy could help Peltola win.
The Cook Political Report rates the Senate race as a toss-up. That assessment highlights how closely watched the contest has become as both parties compete for control of the Senate.
Legal Experts Question the Case
Some legal experts doubt that the Justice Department can use the law cited in its complaint to stop Alaska from certifying the results.
Derek Muller, a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, told the Associated Press that the National Voter Registration Act does not give the Justice Department the power to block election certification.
He said the case could become unnecessary if the election produces a clear victory for either party. If the legal dispute remains active, he expects a court could dismiss it as early as next month.
The lawsuit now places Alaska’s election process at the center of a national legal and political dispute. Its outcome could determine whether the state must delay certification while officials examine the possible effect of the two candidates’ similar names.
For now, the Senate race remains closely watched, with the legal challenge adding another layer of uncertainty to an already competitive contest.
