Ex-doj Lawyer Challenges Blanche as Peltola Fights Election Suit

WHO:

Fox News - Sen. Adam Schiff accused the Justice Department of trying to “subvert” Alaska’s Senate election.

Alternet - CNN legal analyst Elie Honig criticized Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department’s position in the Alaska election lawsuit.

Alternet - The lawsuit concerns incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and another candidate named Dan Sullivan; Democratic nominee Mary Peltola is also discussed.

CNBC - Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) sought dismissal of the Justice Department lawsuit.

CNBC - Common Cause and the League of Women Voters joined Peltola’s motion. Alaska District Court Judge Sharon Gleason is handling the case.

CNBC - President Donald Trump said he ordered the lawsuit; the DOJ is led by Attorney General Todd Blanche.

WHAT:

ABC News - Judge Sharon Gleason’s order described the DOJ’s requested certification block as conditional on Dan Sullivan losing and the result changing if votes for Daniel J. Sullivan were instead counted for him under Alaska’s ranked-choice process.

The Conversation - Mary Peltola’s campaign described the DOJ lawsuit as “wholly baseless” and “an unprecedented pre-emptive strike on democratic elections”; another filing said it seeks to “preemptively nullify” the election and “disenfranchise Alaska voters.”

The Conversation - Former federal judge John E. Jones said the Constitution gives states authority under Article I, Section 4, to conduct elections and set their time, place and manner; he said the Constitution makes “no mention of the president.”

The Conversation - The Supreme Court voted 7-2 to uphold a preliminary injunction blocking Trump administration rules restricting mail-in voting.

The Conversation - The House passed the SAVE America Act, which would have required documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration and for some people voting in federal elections; the Senate did not pass it.

Alternet - Elie Honig said Attorney General Todd Blanche was “simply dead wrong on both the law and the Constitution,” and described the DOJ’s argument as based on legally irrelevant language from a law with no application to the ballot dispute.

Alternet - The DOJ sued over Alaska’s Senate race, seeking authority to potentially block certification if Dan Sullivan loses by a margin that could reflect votes cast mistakenly for another candidate with the same name.

Alternet - Honig called the DOJ’s position “simply dead wrong” and said the federal law cited in its brief “has nothing to do with” ballot design or possible voter confusion.

Alternet - Honig said the Alaska Supreme Court allowed the ballot to proceed with differentiators identifying Dan Sullivan as the senator, incumbent and Republican, while the other candidate had none of those labels.

CNBC - Peltola’s campaign asked the judge to fast-track the case and dismiss it before Election Day. Its filing said it was “seriously concerned” the lawsuit could be used to “lay the groundwork for unlawful efforts to challenge a potential Peltola victory.”

CNBC - The DOJ alleges Daniel J. Sullivan’s “sole purpose” in running “is to benefit the Peltola campaign by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan.”

CNBC - Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC asked the judge to require DOJ responses to their intervention and dismissal motions by 5 p.m. Alaska Time on Tuesday, and a reply by Wednesday.

WHERE:

Alternet - The dispute concerns Alaska’s Senate election and its state courts.

CNBC - The case is before the U.S. District Court in Alaska; the election is for Alaska’s Senate seat.

WHEN:

ABC News - Gleason said she intended to rule on outside parties’ request to join the case by Wednesday at 5 p.m. local time.

CNBC - Peltola’s campaign said it was concerned the lawsuit could be used to challenge a potential victory if it remained pending as of Nov. 3.

WHY:

The Conversation - John Jones said centralized election control by a single politically motivated executive could create a situation “which can be abused.”

CNBC - The winner could determine which party holds a Senate majority starting in January.

Alternet - The DOJ alleges confusion between the two candidates named Dan Sullivan could affect the result; critics say the lawsuit could obstruct a Peltola win.

HOW:

Alternet - Elie Honig said the DOJ relied on a law addressing poll taxes, literacy tests and election monitors, and argued that the brief’s cited language came from the law’s preamble and had no legal relevance.

Alternet - Honig argued that the Constitution leaves election procedures to states initially, or to Congress if it legislates; he said the DOJ relied on introductory language from a law concerning poll taxes, literacy tests and election monitors.

CNBC - The DOJ seeks an investigation into whether confusion over the candidates’ names led enough voters to affect the outcome.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 18:00 UTC)

The Justice Department is suing over Alaska’s Senate race, seeking an investigation into whether confusion between two candidates named Dan Sullivan could affect the result and potentially block certification if the incumbent loses by a narrow margin. Mary Peltola’s campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters have asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit, with Peltola’s campaign warning it could be used to challenge a victory. Legal analyst Elie Honig says the Justice Department’s argument misreads federal law and the Constitution, while President Trump has said he ordered the lawsuit.

(UPDATED October 27, 2026 07:18 UTC)

The Justice Department is suing over Alaska’s Senate election, seeking an investigation into whether voters confused incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan with another candidate of the same name and whether those votes could affect the result. Mary Peltola’s campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters have asked a federal judge to dismiss the case, warning it could be used to challenge a Peltola victory. President Trump said he ordered the lawsuit, while critics including Sen. Adam Schiff and CNN legal analyst Elie Honig argue the department’s legal claims are flawed and could interfere with the election.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 20:06 UTC)

The Justice Department is suing over Alaska’s Senate race, seeking an investigation into whether confusion between two candidates named Dan Sullivan could affect the result and potentially block certification. Mary Peltola’s campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters have asked a federal judge to dismiss the case, while Peltola’s campaign warned it could be used to challenge a possible win. CNN legal analyst Elie Honig said Attorney General Todd Blanche’s legal argument was “simply dead wrong,” arguing that the federal law cited by the Justice Department does not apply to ballot design or voter confusion.

(UPDATED October 26, 2026 19:27 UTC)

The Justice Department is seeking an investigation into whether confusion between two candidates named Dan Sullivan could affect Alaska’s Senate race, and is asking for authority to potentially block certification if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses by a margin tied to mistaken votes. Mary Peltola’s campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters have asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit, with Peltola’s campaign warning it could be used to challenge a possible victory. CNN legal analyst Elie Honig called the DOJ’s legal position “simply dead wrong,” arguing the law it cites does not cover ballot design or voter confusion; President Trump said he ordered the lawsuit, and the race could help determine which party controls the Senate.