Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has accused the Justice Department of attempting to subvert the Alaska Senate election by filing a federal lawsuit over a namesake candidate, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska, running against Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The dispute centers on whether the federal government can intervene in a ballot-access matter already resolved by Alaska state courts. While Republicans argue that the second Daniel Sullivan entered the race to confuse voters and benefit Democratic challenger Mary Peltola, Schiff contends the DOJ lacks standing and is overstepping its authority in a matter of state jurisdiction.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans, including Sen. Dan S. Sullivan's camp and DOJ officials, contend that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s candidacy is a strategic effort to dilute votes for the incumbent Republican senator. The Department of Justice's filing states, "The sole purpose of his candidacy is to benefit the Peltola campaign by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan." The lawsuit argues that the namesake candidate, who has no party affiliation and hails from Petersburg, could mislead voters into casting ballots for the wrong Sullivan, thereby altering the election outcome.
Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the lawsuit by citing federal election law, asserting that the DOJ is seeking to prevent certification only under specific circumstances. The complaint asks the court to delay certification if incumbent Senator Sullivan loses but would have won had votes cast for Petersburg Sullivan gone to him instead. The DOJ seeks to investigate whether voters intended to support the incumbent, citing a letter from Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher. Beecher alleged that Petersburg Sullivan's declaration of candidacy was not properly filed because it was not intended to declare an actual good-faith candidacy. Republicans point to similarities in campaign materials, including dark blue banners, as evidence of intentional confusion.
What the Left Is Saying
Sen. Adam Schiff, a prominent critic of the Trump administration, argued that the Justice Department's intervention is legally unfounded and politically motivated. Speaking to NBC News, Schiff stated, "They don't have 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." He emphasized that the state courts have already adjudicated the question of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s eligibility, noting, "They have already adjudicated this question, and the Justice Department knows this, but it just shows how complicit they are now in the Trump campaign to try to subvert the elections."
Schiff drew parallels to the 2020 presidential election, contrasting the current Attorney General Todd Blanche with former Attorney General William Barr, who declined to support efforts to overturn election results. "This time, with [Attorney General Todd] Blanche, they are all in on this disgraceful campaign," Schiff said. He predicted that the federal challenge has "no chance of succeeding," framing the lawsuit as part of a broader pattern of undermining democratic institutions. The Democratic perspective views the DOJ's move as an unprecedented federal overreach into state-run election administration, particularly in a state where ranked-choice voting and unique primary systems are already complex.
What the Numbers Show
Alaska's election system involves a "jungle primary" where all candidates run on the same ballot, and the top four advance to the general election, which uses ranked-choice voting. In this cycle, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska, advanced alongside Democratic challenger Mary Peltola and independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. State election officials initially disqualified Petersburg Sullivan, citing concerns about voter deception, but an Alaska Superior Court judge overturned this decision. The Alaska Supreme Court subsequently upheld the ruling, allowing Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. to remain on the ballot. The DOJ's federal suit does not seek to remove the candidate from the ballot but rather to delay certification if the vote differential between the two Sullivans is narrow enough to suggest voter confusion. The campaign materials for both Sullivans feature dark blue backgrounds, with Senator Sullivan's banner displaying the Big Dipper, a reference to the constellation on Alaska's flag, while Petersburg Sullivan's banner features a star.
The Bottom Line
The conflict highlights the tension between state election administration and federal oversight in high-stakes races with complex voting systems. The DOJ's argument rests on the premise that federal law protects the integrity of the vote from intentional deception, while Schiff and Democratic allies argue that state courts have exclusive jurisdiction over ballot access issues. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for federal intervention in state elections, particularly in states with ranked-choice voting and open primaries. If the DOJ succeeds in delaying certification, it could trigger a recount or investigation into voter intent, potentially altering the final result in Alaska's U.S. Senate race. The case remains pending in federal court, with no immediate timeline for a ruling. Observers will watch for whether the federal courts defer to state judicial decisions or assert broader authority over election integrity claims.