DOJ Files Lawsuit to Challenge Alaska Senate Ballot Certification
The Justice Department filed a suit seeking to block certification of the Alaska U.S. Senate race if a second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot, citing concerns over election integrity.
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit in Alaska on Thursday requesting that the state be barred from certifying a victory for Democrat Mary Peltola in the upcoming Senate race if candidate Daniel J. Sullivan stays on the ballot. The filing, which comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, argues that federal law requires states to protect 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 suit targets the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, a resident of Petersburg, who Republicans allege 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 permits voters to rank both candidates.
The Justice Department’s statement said the lawsuit aims to prevent a “frivolous candidacy” from undermining election integrity, adding 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.