The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to prevent Alaska from certifying the results of its U.S. Senate election under certain circumstances, arguing that voter confusion surrounding two candidates with nearly identical names could potentially affect the outcome.
The lawsuit, filed October 22 in federal court in Alaska, centers on Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who is also running for the Senate seat. The two candidates have similar names, but Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is appearing on the ballot without a party designation, while the incumbent is listed as the Republican candidate.
The DOJ argues that the presence of the second Sullivan could mislead voters and potentially divert votes from the incumbent. The department is asking the court to prevent certification if Sen. Sullivan loses by fewer votes than those received by Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., allowing an investigation into whether voter confusion affected the result.
A Race With Major Senate Implications
The Alaska contest is being closely watched because the race could have significant consequences for control of the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Sullivan is facing former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola in a competitive race. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, meaning voters rank candidates and votes can be redistributed through subsequent rounds until a candidate receives a majority.
The DOJ contends that even a relatively small number of votes diverted to the second Sullivan could influence the final outcome under Alaska's ranked-choice system.
President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged that he directed the Justice Department to pursue the lawsuit, saying Friday, “I’m the one that said do it.”
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. Was Previously Removed From the Ballot
The controversy surrounding the second Sullivan is not new.
Alaska election officials initially removed Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the ballot, citing concerns about potential voter confusion. However, the decision was challenged in court, and the Alaska Supreme Court ultimately allowed him to remain on the ballot.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has denied that his candidacy is intended to confuse voters or help Peltola. His campaign maintains that he is running independently of the other candidates.
The DOJ's lawsuit now attempts to address the issue after the state courts have already ruled that he can participate in the election.
Critics Warn of Federal Overreach
The lawsuit has drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, who argue that the federal government should not interfere with a state's process for conducting and certifying its elections.
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the Justice Department “should never have filed this lawsuit,” according to Reuters. Election-law experts have also questioned whether federal law gives the DOJ authority to dictate how Alaska certifies its election results.
The Democratic campaign and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have moved to intervene in the case, arguing that the lawsuit represents an extraordinary attempt to interfere with the election before Alaskans have even cast their votes.
Election Integrity Under the Microscope
The case places a renewed spotlight on election administration, ballot design, ranked-choice voting and the authority of states versus the federal government.
With Election Day scheduled for November 3, the legal battle could continue while voters are still deciding one of the country's most closely watched Senate races.
Whatever the outcome, the Alaska case raises a fundamental question for the 2026 midterms: Who ultimately has the authority to determine whether an election result should be certified—the voters and state election officials, or the federal government?
The answer could have implications far beyond Alaska.
