Justice Department seeks to protect Alaska Senate race from ballot confusion that could rob Senator Sullivan of a fair win
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The Justice Department has filed suit to block certification of Alaska's Senate race if Senator Dan Sullivan loses, warning that a similar-name candidate on the ballot may confuse voters and alter the outcome.
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Friday asking a federal court to halt certification of Alaska's Senate election if incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola, taking steps that supporters say are necessary to protect the integrity of the vote. The filing argues that the presence of another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, on the ballot could mislead voters and divert votes intended for the incumbent, potentially affecting the outcome.
According to the complaint, the ballot lists Daniel J. Sullivan first as "Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr." without a party label, followed by Senator Dan Sullivan as "Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent." The department contends that this arrangement may cause voters to inadvertently select the wrong Sullivan and could lead to confusion in ranking the three Republican candidates, possibly leaving Senator Sullivan unranked.
Alaska's Supreme Court recently upheld a lower-court decision allowing Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot, rejecting a state Division of Elections ruling that he should be excluded for causing voter confusion. Sullivan's legal team argued that state law does not permit officials to bar a qualified candidate based on speculative motivations, reinforcing the principle that rules should be applied as written, not bent for political convenience.
Peltola’s campaign spokesperson, Harry Child, called the lawsuit "a despicable political threat to overturn an election" and pledged to fight for voters' rights. A Justice Department spokesperson said the action aims to ensure that the candidacy does not undermine election integrity or the will of Alaskan voters.
If Senator Sullivan were to lose in November but would have prevailed had the votes for Daniel J. Sullivan been counted for him, the department said it would seek an investigation into the matter, citing a possible violation of the National Voter Registration Act.