The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the certification of the upcoming Senate election in Alaska, citing concerns that a second candidate with the same name could confuse voters. The lawsuit, filed by the Justice Department, argues that the presence of another Dan Sullivan on the ballot might lead voters to cast their ballots for the wrong candidate, potentially impacting the race between Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola.
President Donald Trump confirmed his involvement in the decision, telling reporters that he directed the action. He has previously referred to the second Sullivan's candidacy as a "scam" and stated that his administration was exploring "powerful legal options." Efforts to remove the second candidate, identified as a retired teacher, from the ballot have previously been rejected by the Alaska Supreme Court.
According to the lawsuit's filing, the Justice Department asserts that Alaska "will fail in its obligation to protect the integrity of its elections" if results are certified with the inclusion of "any electoral results tainted by the inclusion on the ballot of Daniel J Sullivan." Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. argued in court documents that the second Sullivan's candidacy was intended to benefit Peltola's campaign by drawing votes away from the incumbent senator.
Woodward stated that there is a "substantial likelihood that the inclusion of Dan J. Sullivan will confuse or mislead voters looking to cast a vote for Senator Sullivan and thus distort the will of Alaskan voters." He further contended that a certification of the election under such circumstances would reflect a process that "lacked integrity."
Dan J. Sullivan, the candidate whose presence prompted the lawsuit, has denied these claims. He told the Petersburg Pilot newspaper earlier this year that he "wouldn't even know who to speak to" in Peltola's campaign. In a separate interview, he expressed a hope that voters would be clear about their choices, adding that "choice is good and voters' intent will be as varied as the candidates who are running."
The lawsuit requests that if Peltola wins and the margin of victory suggests possible confusion, certification should be delayed. This delay would allow for an investigation into potential voter mix-ups and for determination of necessary steps had the second Sullivan not been on the ballot.
Polls have indicated a tight race between Senator Sullivan and Peltola in the final days before the November 3 vote. The Senate race in Alaska, a state Trump won by 14 percentage points in 2024, is considered one of the most closely watched contests in the midterm elections. However, the president's approval ratings in the state have reportedly been affected by voter dissatisfaction with rising prices and the war in Iran.