Schiff Accuses DOJ of Subverting Alaska Election Over 'Decoy Dan' Candidate

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has accused the Trump administration's Justice Department of attempting to subvert elections through its lawsuit concerning Alaska's unusual U.S. Senate ballot. The legal challenge stems from the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot, a situation Republicans claim is an attempt by Democrats to confuse voters.

Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska, is running against Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., an unaffiliated candidate. State courts ultimately permitted the second Dan Sullivan to remain on the ballot. Schiff asserted that the Justice Department has no grounds to intervene in a matter already settled by Alaska's courts.

"They have no standing to bring this kind of a suit. It's not the federal government's business to run Alaskan elections. It's Alaska's business to do that," Schiff told NBC News. He added, "The Justice Department knows this, but it just shows how complicit they are now in the Trump campaign to try to subvert the elections."

Republicans, however, contend that Daniel Sullivan Jr. entered the race to siphon votes from the incumbent and benefit former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. Peltola and her campaign have denied these allegations.

Schiff, a frequent critic of former President Donald Trump, drew parallels between the current situation and Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. He suggested that current Justice Department leadership is more willing to pursue such actions than former Attorney General William Barr, who reportedly refused to support efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

"This time, with [Attorney General Todd] Blanche, they are all in on this disgraceful campaign," Schiff stated, predicting the case in Alaska "has no chance of succeeding."

The controversy arose after Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg garnered enough votes in Alaska's primary system to appear on the general election ballot alongside Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Mary Peltola. State election officials initially disqualified Petersburg Sullivan, citing concerns that his candidacy was intended to mislead voters due to his requested ballot name, recent party registration, and campaign material similarities.

An Alaska Superior Court judge overturned the state's disqualification, allowing the namesake candidate to remain on the ballot. The Alaska Supreme Court upheld this decision, resolving the state-level dispute. The Justice Department subsequently filed a federal challenge.

Blanche's DOJ filed its suit after the state proceedings concluded, arguing that the namesake candidacy could mislead voters and seeking to delay certification under specific circumstances. The department's complaint requests the court to prevent certification if incumbent Senator Sullivan loses but would have won had the votes cast for Petersburg Sullivan gone to him instead. The DOJ aims to delay certification pending an investigation into voter intent.

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the lawsuit, citing federal election law. The DOJ filing stated, "The sole purpose of his candidacy is to benefit the Peltola campaign by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan." The filing also referenced a letter from Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, alleging Petersburg Sullivan's declaration of candidacy was not properly filed as it was not intended as a good-faith candidacy.

The department maintained that the lawsuit was drafted by Justice Department attorneys without coordination with any campaign or candidate, relying solely on federal law, including the National Voter Registration Act, which identifies protecting election integrity as one of its purposes.

In response to Schiff's accusations, the White House shared recent comments from Trump, who said he "recommended" the DOJ file the suit and that Petersburg Sullivan was put "up as a matter of confusion." Trump called the situation "a disgrace."

Peltola secured the first position in the August primary, followed by Senator Sullivan and Petersburg Sullivan. Gerald Heikes, a Republican, will also appear on the ballot as the fourth candidate after a Democrat who placed ahead of him withdrew.