Trump administration sues to block Alaska Senate race certification

The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday seeking to block Alaska from certifying its Senate race if incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan is defeated, arguing that a second candidate named Dan J Sullivan on the ballot could mislead voters. The suit asks a judge to halt certification pending an investigation into whether the duplicate name distorted the election outcome, which is set for 3 November.

The challenge comes as the contest between Senator Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola tightens, with recent polls giving Peltola a narrow lead in the final days before the vote. Alaska uses a ranked‑choice system that lets voters select more than one candidate, a feature the government says could increase the risk of confusion. Earlier attempts to remove the second Sullivan, a retired teacher and former Alaska Independence Party member who recently registered as a Republican, were rejected by the Alaska Supreme Court, leaving both names on the ballot.

In the filing, Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. claimed the sole purpose of Dan J Sullivan’s candidacy is to siphon votes from the incumbent and aid Peltola. He warned that allowing the ballot to stand would “fail in its obligation to protect the integrity of its elections.” President Donald Trump, who landed in Florida for a campaign rally on Friday, called the second Sullivan’s run a “scam” and said his administration was exploring “powerful legal options” to end it. Dan J Sullivan denied any ulterior motive, telling a local newspaper he would not know who to speak to in Peltola’s campaign and expressing hope that voters understand who they are voting for.

If the court grants the request, Alaska could be forced to delay certification of the Senate results until it can determine whether voter confusion materially affected the count. A delay would extend the period of uncertainty in a closely watched midterm race and could set a precedent for future challenges based on ballot design. Critics say the lawsuit politicizes election administration, while supporters argue it safeguards democratic integrity. The judge’s ruling, expected in the coming weeks, will shape how the state finalizes one of the nation’s most competitive Senate contests.