DOJ Moves to Block Alaska Senate Results if Sullivan Loses

WHO:

Anchorage Daily News - Nate Adams, a spokesperson for Sen. Dan Sullivan’s campaign, said, “We’ll let the DOJ complaint run its course,” and said Alaskans could distinguish “a Democrat sideshow” from the senator’s record.

Anchorage Daily News - Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee executive director Devan Barber called the lawsuit a “sham” intended to “overturn the will of Alaska voters.”

Anchorage Daily News - The Justice Department said Alaska election officials had determined Daniel J. Sullivan’s campaign was an attempt to “mislead” voters and had wanted him removed from the ballot.

CNN - President Trump said of the Alaska lawsuit, “I’m the one that said do it.”

CNN - President Trump said he directed the Justice Department to file the Alaska lawsuit: “I’m the one that said do it.”

CNN - UCLA law professor Rick Hasen said, “I would give the complaint in this case a failing grade if it were written by one of my students. It’s an embarrassment to the Department of Justice and is extremely unlikely to succeed.”

CNN - The Trump administration’s Justice Department filed the lawsuit; the incumbent is Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan; the other candidate is Daniel J. Sullivan; Democratic challenger Mary Peltola is also in the race.

CBS News - The lawsuit concerns Sen. Dan Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan, Peltola, and Republican candidate Gerald Heikes.

Alternet - Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward wrote in the court filing; the lawsuit names Alaska, its elections director, and state election boards as defendants. Alaska elections director Carol Beecher sent an attached letter.

CNN - Notre Dame Law School election law professor Derek Muller called the DOJ’s legal theory “strange and unusual” and said he had never seen the federal voter-registration law’s preface used this way.

Alternet - Bulwark reporter Sam Stein wrote on X: “DOJ now seeking to block Alaska Senate results if Peltola wins and the other Dan Sullivan gets votes[.]”

WHAT:

Anchorage Daily News - The Senate race is in a state with 738,000 people; both parties expected the winner to prevail by a tight margin.

Anchorage Daily News - The ballot also includes an initiative to repeal Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.

Anchorage Daily News - Trump called Daniel J. Sullivan’s presence on the ballot “CHEATING” and wrote that he was examining “powerful legal options” to remove him.

CBS News - The DOJ alleged Daniel J. Sullivan used the same ballot name and party affiliation as Sen. Dan Sullivan, potentially diverting votes and benefiting Mary Peltola.

CNN - The lawsuit was filed before the Alaska Senate election results were known and seeks a possible delay in certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan is defeated next month.

CNN - The lawsuit invokes the preface of a federal voter-registration law, which describes the goal of protecting the “integrity of the electoral process,” as the basis for court intervention.

CNN - The Alaska lawsuit seeks to delay certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses by a margin small enough that voter confusion could have cost him the race.

CNN - The lawsuit argues that certifying Mary Peltola as the winner without examining possible voter confusion would violate Alaska’s duties under the National Voter Registration Act; election law professor Derek Muller said the law imposes no such duties on a state.

CNN - CNN reported that voters who rank both candidates named Sullivan could have their votes counted for the incumbent under ranked-choice voting, and that an investigation’s ability to determine how many votes were lost to confusion is unclear.

CNN - The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that Daniel J. Sullivan was qualified for the ballot.

CNN - Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to rule out DOJ involvement in election certification, saying it would occur only in a “doomsday scenario.”

CNN - The DOJ’s California lawsuit seeks to block counting ballots from around 20,000 people the administration claims could be noncitizens.

CBS News - The Justice Department’s filing says some of Sen. Dan Sullivan’s supporters “likely will inadvertently vote for Daniel J. Sullivan,” while others “might not rank Senator Sullivan at all.”

CNN - The Justice Department also sued California over counting ballots from around 20,000 people it claims could be noncitizens.

CNN - Nevada later reduced its estimate of noncitizens on voter rolls from as many as 16,000 to 185; state officials found all 185 were citizens.

CNN - A federal judge halted portions of a Homeland Security investigation into purported noncitizen voting in several states, including California, citing the risk of “interference or intimidation.”

CNN - Democrats need to gain four Senate seats in November to win control of the Senate.

CNN - The lawsuit says the United States is injured when a federal election’s certification is tainted by a “frivolous candidacy” because that “undermines confidence in the make-up and workings of the federal government.”

CNN - The Justice Department’s filing says votes for Daniel J. Sullivan could be reallocated to Mary Peltola in later ranked-choice rounds if voters rank him above Sen. Dan Sullivan, potentially changing the result.

CNN - The lawsuit states: “Even if a majority of Alaskans wish to vote for Senator Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan’s presence on the ballot will result in a victory for Peltola.”

CNN - The DOJ seeks to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Dan Sullivan loses, arguing that Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy could confuse voters and affect the result.

CBS News - The DOJ asks a federal court to block certification if Sen. Sullivan loses but would have won if votes for Daniel J. Sullivan had been counted for him, pending an investigation into voter intent.

CBS News - The DOJ alleges Daniel J. Sullivan deliberately sought to confuse voters and that certification of a result affected by confusion would violate the National Voter Registration Act.

Alternet - The complaint alleges Daniel J. Sullivan requested the ballot name “Dan Sullivan,” switched his affiliation to Republican shortly before filing, and had a campaign website resembling the senator’s. Beecher’s letter says he initially requested “Dan S. Sullivan,” using the incumbent’s middle initial.

Alternet - The DOJ complaint reports primary results of 49.5% for Peltola, 41.4% for the incumbent Sullivan, and 2.5% for Daniel J. Sullivan; Gerald Heikes also advanced.

CNN - In the primary, Dan Sullivan received 68,726 votes and Daniel J. Sullivan received 4,107.

CBS News - Alaska first used ranked-choice voting in 2022 after voters approved a change to the election system in 2020. Alaska also held a ranked-choice general election in 2024, according to Alternet.

CBS News - Alaska’s 2010 Senate election saw Lisa Murkowski win reelection through a write-in campaign after losing the Republican primary.

WHERE:

CNN - The Senate election and lawsuit concern Alaska, where the result could affect control of the U.S. Senate.

Alternet - The lawsuit was filed in federal court and challenges certification by Alaska.

WHY:

CBS News - The DOJ said Sen. Sullivan’s supporters “likely will be confused as to how to rank the three Republican candidates as to defeat Peltola.”

CNN - CNN reported that Alaska’s ranked-choice voting makes it unlikely Daniel J. Sullivan would affect the result because voters confused by the names could rank both candidates, allowing their votes to count for the incumbent.

CNN - The lawsuit says the United States is injured when a federal election certification is tainted by a “frivolous candidacy” because that “undermines confidence in the make-up and workings of the federal government.”

CNN - Derek Muller said the Justice Department was “just plucking from the preface” of the voter-registration law to claim a “free-wheeling right” to intervene in state election operations.

CNN - UCLA law professor Rick Hasen called the Alaska complaint “an embarrassment to the Department of Justice” and said it was “extremely unlikely to succeed.”

CBS News - The Justice Department alleges Daniel J. Sullivan sought to confuse voters by using the same ballot name and party affiliation as the incumbent, potentially diverting votes and benefiting Mary Peltola.

CNN - Rick Hasen said the Alaska complaint was “extremely unlikely to succeed.” CNN reported that Notre Dame professor Derek Muller said the National Voter Registration Act does not impose the duties the lawsuit attributes to states.

CBS News - Alaska’s move away from party primaries was intended to curtail polarization.

CNN - Derek Muller said it was unclear how a court could practically intervene as proposed and said, “I just don’t think a court is going to buy that.”

CNN - The DOJ says the second candidate named Sullivan could confuse voters, undermine confidence in the federal government, and affect the election outcome.

CBS News - The DOJ says some voters may mistakenly vote for Daniel J. Sullivan or be confused about ranking Republican candidates.

CNN - Muller said the DOJ was relying on the preface of a federal voter-registration law to claim authority to intervene, a use he had not previously seen.

HOW:

Anchorage Daily News - Daniel J. Sullivan, from Petersburg, said he decided to run on his own.

Alternet - Alaska elections director Carol Beecher had said since June that Daniel J. Sullivan announced his candidacy intentionally to cause confusion; his name was removed from the ballot before Alaska courts reversed that decision.

Democracy Docket - Democrats asked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg for expedited discovery in a separate lawsuit challenging administration efforts involving election officials and voter registration; they requested defendants’ answers by “Oct. 28.”

Alternet - Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward’s court filing was submitted on Thursday.

CNN - Daniel J. Sullivan is listed on the ballot without a party affiliation, while Sen. Dan Sullivan is labeled “Registered Republican” and “incumbent.”

CNN - Alaska advances the top four primary candidates to the general election regardless of party. Voters rank candidates; if no one wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated and votes are reassigned according to voters’ next preferences until two candidates remain.

CBS News - The DOJ’s proposed certification block would apply if the incumbent loses but would have won had Daniel J. Sullivan’s votes been counted for him.

Alternet - Alaska courts allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot after a trial court found his exclusion erroneous and the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 15:58 UTC)

President Trump says he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its Senate election, seeking to delay certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and voter confusion may have affected the result. The department argues that another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, could confuse voters because he shares the senator’s name and is also running as a Republican. The lawsuit says that confusion could divert votes or affect how ballots are redistributed under ranked-choice voting, potentially benefiting Democrat Mary Peltola. It asks for an investigation into voter intent before certification. Alaska election officials had sought to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot, but the state Supreme Court ruled he qualified. Sen. Sullivan’s campaign says it will let the complaint proceed, while Democrats call the suit an attempt to overturn voters’ will. Legal experts have sharply criticized the Justice Department’s argument.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 11:58 UTC)

President Trump acknowledged directing the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its upcoming Senate election, saying, “I’m the one that said do it.” The lawsuit seeks to delay certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, arguing that another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, could confuse voters and divert votes to Democrat Mary Peltola. The Justice Department says the candidates’ similar names and party affiliations could affect ranked-choice voting and change the outcome. It asks a federal court to require an investigation into voter intent before certification. The filing relies on language in the National Voter Registration Act about protecting election integrity. Election law experts sharply criticized that argument: Notre Dame professor Derek Muller called the theory strange, while UCLA professor Rick Hasen said the complaint was an embarrassment and unlikely to succeed. Alaska’s Supreme Court previously ruled Daniel J. Sullivan qualified for the ballot.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 07:09 UTC)

President Trump says he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its Senate election, seeking to delay certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. The lawsuit argues that another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, could confuse voters and divert votes, potentially helping Democrat Mary Peltola. It asks a federal court to investigate voter intent before certifying a result that might have changed because of that confusion. The filing invokes the National Voter Registration Act, claiming Alaska has a duty to protect election integrity. But ranked-choice voting could allow voters who mistakenly rank both Sullivans to have their votes count for the incumbent. Election law scholars sharply criticized the case: UCLA professor Rick Hasen called it an embarrassment and said it is unlikely to succeed, while Notre Dame professor Derek Muller said the legal theory was unusual. The lawsuit was filed before the election result was known.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 02:07 UTC)

President Trump said he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its Senate election, seeking to block certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and voter confusion may have affected the result. The department argues that candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, also a Republican, could draw votes from the incumbent and ultimately benefit Democratic challenger Mary Peltola under ranked-choice voting. Its filing says some supporters may mistakenly vote for the other Sullivan, while others may fail to rank the senator. The lawsuit asks for an investigation into voter intent before results are certified. Alaska’s Supreme Court previously ruled Daniel J. Sullivan qualified for the ballot. Election law experts sharply criticized the case: UCLA professor Rick Hasen called the complaint an embarrassment and said it was unlikely to succeed, while Notre Dame professor Derek Muller said the law does not impose the duties the department claims.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 00:06 UTC)

President Trump said he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its Senate election, seeking to delay certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and voter confusion may have affected the result. The dispute centers on Daniel J. Sullivan, another candidate with a similar name, and Democrat Mary Peltola. The department says voters could mistakenly choose the other Sullivan or rank him ahead of the senator, potentially shifting votes to Peltola in later rounds of Alaska’s ranked-choice system. It asks a federal court to require an investigation into voter intent before certification. The lawsuit alleges Daniel J. Sullivan sought to confuse voters, but election law experts questioned the department’s legal theory. UCLA professor Rick Hasen called the complaint an embarrassment and said it was unlikely to succeed. Notre Dame professor Derek Muller said federal voter-registration law does not impose the duties Alaska is accused of violating.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:10 UTC)

The Justice Department is asking a federal court to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, arguing another candidate with a similar name could confuse voters and change the outcome. Daniel J. Sullivan is also on the ballot, alongside Democratic challenger Mary Peltola and Republican Gerald Heikes. The department says some voters may mistakenly choose Daniel Sullivan, whose votes could later shift to Peltola under Alaska’s ranked-choice system. It alleges he sought to confuse voters by using the name “Dan Sullivan” and switching to Republican shortly before filing. President Trump said he directed the Justice Department to bring the lawsuit. Election law experts have sharply criticized the case, questioning its legal theory and whether courts could intervene. UCLA professor Rick Hasen called the complaint an embarrassment and said it was extremely unlikely to succeed.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 21:12 UTC)

President Trump says he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its Senate election, seeking to block certification if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses. The department argues that another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, could confuse voters and divert votes, potentially helping Democratic challenger Mary Peltola win. Under Alaska’s ranked-choice system, voters rank candidates, and votes can transfer as lower-ranked candidates are eliminated. The lawsuit asks the court to investigate whether Daniel Sullivan’s votes would have changed the outcome if counted for the incumbent. The department alleges he sought to resemble the senator on the ballot and in campaign materials, though Alaska courts have allowed him to remain a candidate. Election law professors called the legal theory unusual and the complaint weak, questioning whether federal voter-registration law gives the department the authority it claims. The Senate contest could matter to control of the chamber.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 20:03 UTC)

The Justice Department is asking a federal court to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, arguing that another candidate with the same name could confuse voters and change the outcome. The other candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, is running alongside Sullivan, Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Gerald Heikes. The lawsuit alleges Daniel Sullivan sought the ballot name “Dan Sullivan,” switched to the Republican affiliation and used a campaign website resembling the senator’s. Alaska’s ranked-choice system advances the top four primary finishers, then reallocates votes as lower-ranked candidates are eliminated. The Justice Department says Daniel Sullivan’s votes could shift to Peltola, even when voters rank him above the senator. It wants certification paused if Sullivan would have won with those votes counted for him. An election law professor called the legal theory unusual and questioned whether a court would intervene.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 17:25 UTC)

The Justice Department is asking a federal court to block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, arguing that a second candidate with a similar name could confuse voters and change the outcome. Daniel J. Sullivan is also on the ballot, alongside Democratic challenger Mary Peltola and Republican Gerald Heikes. Under Alaska’s ranked-choice system, votes for Daniel J. Sullivan could transfer to Peltola in later rounds if voters rank him above the incumbent. The lawsuit alleges the candidate sought the name “Dan Sullivan,” changed his party affiliation to Republican, and used a campaign website resembling the senator’s. Alaska officials and election boards are named as defendants. Election law professor Derek Muller called the Justice Department’s legal theory unusual and questioned whether a court could intervene as proposed. Alaska courts have allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 16:19 UTC)

The Justice Department is asking a federal court to block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate election under certain circumstances, arguing that a second candidate named Sullivan could confuse voters and affect the outcome. The request would apply if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses but would have won had votes for Daniel J. Sullivan been counted for him, pending an investigation into voter intent. The department alleges Daniel J. Sullivan sought the ballot name “Dan Sullivan,” changed his affiliation to Republican, and used a campaign website resembling the incumbent’s. Alaska’s elections director says he initially requested “Dan S. Sullivan.” Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Gerald Heikes are also in the race. In the primary, Peltola received 49.5 percent, the senator 41.4 percent, and Daniel J. Sullivan 2.5 percent. An election law professor called the Justice Department’s legal theory unusual, saying he had not seen the law invoked this way.