The Justice Department has asked a federal court to hold up certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses because some voters picked a second candidate with nearly the same name.
The lawsuit targets the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher who is also on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Daily Wire, The Daily Caller and the Washington Examiner reported the filing.
What the lawsuit asks
- The request: The department wants certification blocked only if the senator loses and would have won had the other Sullivan’s votes gone to him under Alaska’s ranked-choice count.
- The reason: The complaint argues the second candidate entered the race to draw votes away from the senator. It says the suit was brought “to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska.”
- The delay: A hold would give time to look into whether those voters meant to back the incumbent, The Daily Wire reported.
- The court: The case went to U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason in Alaska.
How the second Sullivan got on the ballot
Alaska’s Division of Elections first rejected his filing. Director Carol Beecher found it was not made as a good-faith candidacy, The Daily Caller reported. State courts later kept him on the ballot.
In the August primary, Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, drew about 49.5% of the vote. Sen. Sullivan drew about 41.4%, and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. about 2.5%. Republicans say that small share could decide a close race. The challenger and the Peltola campaign have both denied any plan to confuse voters, The Daily Wire reported.
Trump says he ordered the suit
President Donald Trump told reporters Friday that he directed the Justice Department to file the lawsuit, the Washington Examiner reported. The Examiner described the race as a toss-up.
What comes next
Election Day is 11 days away. The lawsuit does not stop anyone from voting. Any court order would matter only after the votes are counted.
Arkansas voters go to the polls the same day. Read iSEARK.com’s report on early voting in Southeast Arkansas and its coverage of the Supreme Court’s New Hampshire voter ID order.
Sources: The Daily Wire; The Daily Caller; Washington Examiner.
