DOJ Sues to Block Alaska Senate Certification if Sullivan Loses: Trump, Murkowski, Schumer React
On Oct. 22, 2026, the Justice Department sued Alaska election officials in federal court, asking for an order blocking certification of the state's U.S. Senate result if Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan loses and would have won had the votes cast for a second candidate on the ballot, retired Petersburg teacher Daniel J. Sullivan, gone to him under Alaska's ranked-choice count. The complaint, signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and citing the National Voter Registration Act, argues that if the state certifies results "tainted by the inclusion on the ballot of Daniel J. Sullivan," it "will fail in its obligation to protect the integrity of its election." Republicans have called the second Sullivan a Democratic plant; he says he decided to run on his own, and the Alaska Supreme Court ordered him kept on the ballot after an earlier challenge. Sen. Sullivan is labeled the incumbent on the ballot. In the August all-party primary, Democrat Mary Peltola took 49.5%, Sullivan 41.4% and Daniel J. Sullivan 2.5%. The day before the filing, Trump posted that he was "looking at powerful legal options" to remove the second Sullivan from the ballot, and on Oct. 23 he told reporters in Florida that he had ordered the suit. Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking hours before it was filed, said it is never the department's intention "to improperly interfere with elections" or certification. Election law scholars said no statute lets the Justice Department block a state's certification. Sen. Sullivan's campaign said he did not ask for the suit and would "let the DOJ complaint run its course." Election Day is Nov. 3.
“[To reporters after landing in Florida for a campaign rally, asked about the lawsuit:] Well, I'm one that said, "Do it." … They have two guys run named Dan Sullivan running. … [Democrats] put up a guy … I don't think he ever voted before. All of a sudden he decides to run for the Senate, and his name is Dan Sullivan. … One is Daniel S., one is Daniel J. The Daniel J. is the fake.”