DOJ Moves to Overrule Alaska Ballot Process in Senate Fight
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The Justice Department filed a lawsuit aimed at blocking Alaska from certifying the Senate race if a second Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot, framing the dispute as a matter of election integrity while critics see yet another federal intrusion into a state election process.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit in Alaska on Thursday seeking to stop the state from certifying a victory for Democrat Mary Peltola in the upcoming Senate race if candidate Daniel J. Sullivan stays on the ballot. The filing, submitted less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, claims federal law obligates states to safeguard the integrity of federal elections.
President Donald Trump said he directed the administration to pursue the action, telling reporters at a rally in Florida, "I’m the one that said do it."
The lawsuit targets the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, a resident of Petersburg, whom Republicans say could confuse voters and siphon votes from incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. State officials have allowed the challenger to remain on the ballot without a party designation, and Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system allows voters to rank both candidates.
The Justice Department’s statement said the lawsuit is intended to prevent a “frivolous candidacy” from undermining election integrity, and added that the department is acting in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act.
Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters in Virginia that the department does not intend to interfere with state certification processes, "It is not DOJ’s intention to, and it’s never our intention to, improperly interfere with elections or the state certification process."
Republican campaign spokesman Nate Adams said the Sullivan campaign will let the DOJ complaint proceed, noting, "Alaskans can tell the difference between a Democrat sideshow and Senator Sullivan’s strong record of delivering for Alaska."
Legal scholars noted that the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed if the election outcome is clear, with Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller saying the statute does not permit the DOJ to enjoin certification and that the case may be dismissed quickly.
The filing follows previous attempts by Alaska courts to keep Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot, despite challenges from state Republican officials who argued the candidacy could mislead voters. The dispute adds to broader national concerns about federal involvement in state election administration.