The Justice Department has sued Alaska to block certification of the state’s U.S. Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola and votes for a second candidate named Dan Sullivan could have changed the outcome.
The dispute centers on Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher and school administrator from Petersburg. Alaska election officials initially tried to remove him from the ballot, arguing that his candidacy could confuse voters, but a state court and the Alaska Supreme Court allowed him to remain in the race. The state lists him as “Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.” without a party affiliation, while the incumbent appears as “Dan S. Sullivan” with Republican and incumbent labels.
The federal lawsuit asks the court to prevent Alaska from certifying a Peltola victory if the senator loses and transferring Daniel J. Sullivan received 2. 5% of the vote in the August nonpartisan primary and advanced to the general election alongside Peltola, Sen.
President Donald Trump said he directed the Justice Department to file the case. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the lawsuit was intended to preserve evidence and allow a court to determine whether confusion affected the result, while insisting that the administration was not attempting to take over Alaska’s election. Sullivan’s campaign said it would let the case proceed and expressed confidence in his reelection. Peltola called the lawsuit corruption and said it diverted attention from affordability. Lisa Murkowski criticized the filing, saying Alaska’s ballot already distinguishes the two candidates, while state officials said they were focused on conducting the election and assuring voters that their ballots would count. The lawsuit leaves certification dependent on both the election result and the court’s response to the federal request.