DOJ sues Alaska to block Senate certification over candidate name confusion

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in federal court in Anchorage on Thursday aiming to prevent Alaska from certifying its U.S. Senate election results if incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan loses. The suit argues that the presence of another candidate, Dan J. Sullivan Jr., could mislead voters because the two names are nearly identical. The department asks a judge to block certification pending an investigation into whether votes cast for the challenger were intended for the incumbent.

President Donald Trump said he directed the administration to pursue the action, stating, "I'm the one that said do it." A Justice Department spokesperson described the filing as a step to ensure that the candidacy does not undermine the integrity of Alaska’s election or the will of its voters.

Alaska’s other senator, Lisa Murkowski, criticized the move, saying the Justice Department should not have filed the lawsuit. Election law experts noted that the case lacks legal merit and that the department lacks authority to dictate how Alaska certifies its election results.

The lawsuit comes as the Alaska Senate race between Senator Dan S. Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola remains close, and control of the U.S. Senate could hinge on the outcome. Peltola said the ballot layout leaves little room for confusion, while the challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, has denied any intent to mislead voters.