In a new filing to a federal judge, Alaska state officials have requested the permanent dismissal of a Trump administration lawsuit that seeks to block the certification of the state’s U.S. Senate race unless incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is declared the winner.
The lawsuit, filed by the Department of Justice on Oct. 22, alleges that Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited a retired teacher named Dan J. Sullivan to run for Senate to confuse voters and split the vote.
Alaska officials countered in a Saturday filing that the demand to set aside ballots is legally meritless and practically impossible, arguing that election certification is a state responsibility.
What the Right Is Saying
The Trump administration and Sen. Dan S. Sullivan contend that the presence of a candidate with a nearly identical name constitutes voter deception that undermines the election's integrity. In a Fox News interview on Saturday, Sen. Sullivan said, "there’s no way Peltola doesn’t know about" the scheme to recruit Dan J. Sullivan. He characterized the situation as "deception" and stated, "But at its worst, it’s disdain for us Alaskans."
Sullivan argued that the tactic is designed to make "Alaskans throw away their vote." The DOJ’s amended complaint cites reporting from The New York Times alleging that Peltola’s campaign was involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan and that Peltola was aware of the situation. The administration maintains that the competitive nature of the race and the name similarity create a unique legal basis for federal intervention to ensure the will of the voters is accurately reflected.
What the Left Is Saying
Alaska state officials, aligned with the Democratic candidate Mary Peltola, argue that the federal intervention is an overreach into state-run elections. The filing from the Alaska Attorney General’s office stated, "The United States’ opposition provides no reason for this Court to entertain this meritless lawsuit any longer," and asserted that "the relief demanded is inappropriate and not even possible given Alaskan voters’ vital right to ballot secrecy."
Peltola addressed the accusations at a rally on Friday, saying she was "so deeply offended by these accusations about having any involvement with anyone else’s candidacy." She stated, "I want fewer candidates in the primary. I’m not out soliciting more competition," and added that she did "not need any help" defeating Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
The state filing further noted that the Alaska Supreme Court approved the second Sullivan’s name to be on the ballot months ago and that "state officials carefully designed the ballot to minimize voter confusion."
What the Numbers Show
The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 22, just three days before Election Day. The judge is expected to rule soon on whether to dismiss the case or allow it to proceed. The core legal dispute centers on the DOJ's proposal to "segregate" ballots ranking Dan J. Sullivan from the general count. Alaska officials described this proposal as "unexplained" and stated, "No matter how the ballots are physically stored, it will be easy to tell which ballots rank Daniel J." The filing concluded that if the DOJ intends to separate these ballots, the proposal is "both disturbing and impossible."
The Bottom Line
This legal battle tests the boundaries of federal authority in state-run elections and the specific mechanics of Alaska's ranked-choice voting system. If the judge allows the lawsuit to proceed, it could delay the certification of Alaska's Senate winner, a critical seat in the 2026 Congress.
The outcome may set a precedent for how federal courts handle allegations of voter confusion caused by similar candidate names in future elections, potentially reshaping the relationship between federal oversight and state election administration.