DOJ tries to rig Alaska Senate certification in favor of incumbent Sullivan
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The Justice Department has sued Alaska officials in an extraordinary bid to stop them from certifying the Senate race unless incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan wins, claiming a similarly named candidate may confuse voters. Critics say the move stretches federal power into election administration.
The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday seeking a court order that would stop Alaska election officials from certifying the November U.S. Senate election results unless incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is declared the winner. The filing argues that the presence of a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could mislead voters who intend to support the sitting senator.
“For example, some supporters of Senator Sullivan likely will inadvertently vote for Daniel J. Sullivan,” the complaint reads.
“To guard against this danger, it is vital that Defendants not certify any election result that may be impacted by voter confusion,” the suit adds.
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the action is intended “to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska.” Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters that the department does not intend to improperly interfere with elections or the certification process, though he acknowledged a “doomsday” scenario could arise.
The lawsuit seeks to block certification only if two conditions are met: Senator Sullivan does not win, and a hypothetical scenario in which all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. were instead counted for Senator Sullivan would have changed the outcome under Alaska’s rank-choice system.
The Department’s involvement is unusual, as its legal authority in elections is generally limited to civil-rights enforcement and prosecuting violations of election law. Legal analyst Justin Levitt noted that no statute explicitly permits the DOJ to challenge ballot results or delay certification.
A DOJ spokesperson said Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy was intended to mislead voters and compromise ballot fairness, and that the department is acting under the National Voter Registration Act to prevent a “frivolous candidacy” from undermining the election.
Sullivan Jr. remains on the ballot after an Alaska court rejected an earlier effort to remove him. The November ballot lists “Dan S. Sullivan” as the incumbent Republican and “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” without party affiliation. The former senator’s campaign and allies have accused the younger Sullivan of being a “Democratic dupe” designed to siphon votes.
President Donald Trump previously called Sullivan Jr. a “cheat” in a social-media video, alleging the candidacy was a partisan ploy to confuse voters.
Sullivan Jr. declined to comment on the lawsuit. His campaign has denied any coordination with other candidates, and he has asserted his right to run for office.