Justice Department Sues to Pause Alaska Senate Certification

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit in Alaska on Sunday to potentially hold the certification of the state's Senate race. The action targets a ballot that lists two candidates with the first name Dan and the last name Sullivan. This legal move follows a series of state court rulings that allowed the second candidate to remain on the ballot.

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the suit by citing federal election law. The department argues that the presence of a namesake candidate could mislead voters. The complaint does not ask to stop the vote or delay certification in all cases. It seeks a pause only if Senator Dan S. Sullivan loses the election but would have won if votes cast for the other Dan Sullivan were given to him instead.

The dispute centers on Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a candidate from Petersburg who runs as an independent. He qualified for the general election ballot through Alaska's primary system. State election officials initially disqualified him because they believed his candidacy was designed to confuse voters. An Alaska Superior Court judge overturned that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court later upheld the ruling.

Senator Adam Schiff of California criticized the federal intervention. He told NBC News that the Justice Department has no standing to manage a state election that local courts have already resolved. Schiff described the lawsuit as part of a broader effort to subvert the election process. He noted that previous Justice Department leadership under Attorney General William Barr did not support similar challenges to election results in 2020.

The Justice Department's filing includes specific evidence of potential voter confusion. It points to a letter from Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher. Beecher stated that Petersburg Sullivan's declaration of candidacy was not filed in good faith. The filing also compares the two candidates' campaign banners. One features a dark blue star, while the other displays the Big Dipper from the Alaska flag.

Former Representative Mary Peltola is the Democratic challenger in this race. She placed first in the August primary. Senator Sullivan finished second, and Petersburg Sullivan finished third. A fourth candidate, Gerald Heikes, will also appear on the ballot. He is a Republican and a drywall contractor from Palmer who secured his spot after another Democrat withdrew.

President Donald Trump stated he recommended the Justice Department file the suit. He called the situation a disgrace and said the Petersburg candidate was used to create confusion. The White House confirmed these comments in response to inquiries about Schiff's accusations. The federal case relies on the National Voter Registration Act to support its claim that protecting election integrity is a federal purpose.