Justice Department files lawsuit to halt Alaska Senate result certification over name confusion
The U.S. Justice Department sued to prevent Alaska from certifying its Senate race results, citing potential voter confusion between two similarly named Republican candidates, as the race could decide Senate control.
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking a federal judge’s order to stop Alaska from certifying the outcome of its Senate race if incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan loses by a narrow margin. The suit argues that voters might be confused by the presence of another Republican candidate, Dan J. Sullivan, whose name closely resembles the incumbent’s, and requests an investigation to determine whether votes intended for Senator Sullivan were miscast.
"I'm the one that said do it," President Donald Trump said in response to the filing.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the agency is taking "necessary steps to ensure that this frivolous candidacy does not undermine the integrity of Alaska’s election or the will of its voters."
Election law experts noted that the lawsuit has no legal basis, with David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research stating the Justice Department "has absolutely no authority to tell Alaska when or how to certify the results of its Senate election" and that the issue has already been resolved by Alaska courts.
The Alaska Supreme Court had allowed the unelected Dan J. Sullivan to appear on the ballot without a party label, while Senator Dan S. Sullivan remains listed as the Republican incumbent. The race pits the incumbent against Democrat Mary Peltola and is viewed as pivotal for control of the U.S. Senate.
State election officials reported preparations for possible federal challenges to the November elections, amid broader concerns about federal involvement in vote certification.