The Justice Department sued on Friday to block certification of Alaska's U.S. Senate results if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. President Trump said he ordered it. "I'm the one that said do it," he told reporters as he landed in Florida for a campaign rally 1.
The government's argument centers on a second candidate on the ballot, Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher who is also running as a Republican 1. The Justice Department says some voters "likely will inadvertently vote for Daniel J. Sullivan" by mistake 2.
What the lawsuit asks for
The complaint asks for a pause in certifying Alaska's vote "pending an investigation" into whether votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant for the incumbent 1. If Sen. Sullivan loses but would have won had those votes counted for him, the department would seek that investigation, according to its complaint 2.
The department says the candidacy violates the National Voter Registration Act, a 1993 law enacted to make registering to vote easier 2. It also alleges the second Sullivan deliberately tried to confuse voters. That is an allegation, not a court finding 2.
From Channel GOPPeltola: Tariffs doubled Alaska air taxi's parts billMary Peltola · 137 plays · captioned, with the source named
Sen. Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, in what polls show is a dead heat. Control of the Senate could come down to Alaska 1. Peltola would be the first Democrat to win the seat in nearly two decades 1.
What critics say
Peltola's campaign spokesperson, Harry Child, called the effort "a despicable political threat to overturn an election" 2.
a despicable political threat to overturn an election
David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, called the suit "an unprecedented intervention by the federal government." He said Alaska's courts had already "fully litigated" the two-Sullivans question 1. He also told PBS NewsHour this is purely a matter of state law and that the Justice Department has no role 3.
Derek Mueller, a University of Notre Dame law professor, wrote that the legal claim is "so absurdly thin, there's essentially no likelihood of success" 1. Experts also noted that checking voters' intentions after the fact would be nearly impossible, because Americans vote by secret ballot 1.
The court history
In June, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan could stay on the ballot. That upheld a lower court and reversed a state elections division decision that he was ineligible 2. His lawyers argued that state law does not let officials remove qualified candidates over possible confusion 2.
The ballot will list the senator as "(Registered Republican) Incumbent" to make the difference clearer for voters 1. The sample ballot in the Justice Department's own filing shows Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. with no party affiliation listed 2.
Why it matters
The pattern is a federal agency stepping into a state's vote count days before voters have cast their ballots. The suit applies only if the Republican incumbent loses 3. That matters because certification is the step that confirms what voters decided.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the filing was meant "to ensure that this frivolous candidacy does not undermine the integrity of Alaska's election or the will of its voters" 2. Election day is Nov. 3. The next step is for a court to decide whether to take up the case.
The Record
Sources
- The Guardian, “DoJ sues to block certification of Alaska Senate results if Republican incumbent loses” (2026-10-23). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/23/trump-doj-lawsuit-alaska
- CBS News, “DOJ sues to block Alaska Senate certification if Sullivan loses” (2026-10-23). cbsnews.com/news/trump-admin-sues-to-block-alaska-senate-cer
- PBS NewsHour, “Trump says he ordered suit to block Alaska Senate results if GOP loses” (2026-10-23). pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-says-he-ordered-suit-to-block-al
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