Justice Department Sues to Block Alaska Senate Certification Over Name Confusion
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday rejected accusations that the Justice Department is attempting to interfere in the upcoming midterms, defending a federal lawsuit aimed at delaying vote certification in Alaska’s tight Senate race. The legal action, filed late Thursday in federal court in Alaska, seeks to prevent state officials from certifying election results if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses his seat. The seat is widely considered key for Republicans trying to maintain their Senate majority. At the center of the dispute is a second candidate on the Nov. 3 ballot: Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg. Republicans have called the challenger a spoiler candidate meant to siphon votes away from the incumbent senator, who faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman. However, Daniel J. Sullivan denied that his run was meant to mislead voters, stating that entering the race was entirely his own choice.
Federal Suit Challenges Ballot Setup
Citing the National Voter Registration Act, the Justice Department’s lawsuit asks to halt certification until federal authorities can determine whether votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan were intended for the incumbent senator. The filing didn’t explain how officials could measure voter intent given the confidential nature of secret ballots. President Trump confirmed his direct involvement on Friday, telling reporters in Florida, “I’m the one that said do it.”
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Blanche faced sharp questioning from anchor Dana Bash over whether the suit lays the groundwork for Trump to contest the broader midterm outcomes or interfere in local election administration. “We’re not laying any groundwork for the president to do that,” Blanche said. “President Trump isn’t trying to take over a state election in any way, shape or form.”
The interview grew tense after Bash asked if the litigation raised risks reminiscent of the 2020 post-election challenges and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “Oh, you got to stop it with that. You aren’t being a real person. Come on, man,” Blanche countered, calling the comparison “crazy” and describing CNN’s focus on Jan. 6 as “so embarrassing.”
Blanche insisted the department was merely acting to protect constitutional principles and ensure federal election standards are upheld. “It’s an obligation of the states to avoid confusion, among other things, confusion in the minds of voters in the election process,” he said.
State Officials and Courts Already Weighed In
State election officials previously attempted to scrub Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot, arguing his candidacy intentionally misled the electorate. However, both an Alaska state court and the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that he could remain on the ballot. Blanche dismissed those rulings, claiming the state supreme court “explicitly didn’t consider federal law.”
In response to the confusion, state election officials modified how the names appear to voters. The incumbent senator is listed as “Dan S. Sullivan,” identified as a registered Republican and incumbent, while the challenger appears as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” with no party label. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who supports her colleague’s reelection bid, publicly criticized the federal intervention on social media, stating the state had already adequately distinguished the two candidates on the ballot. The lawsuit was signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who previously represented defendants facing charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack before joining the Justice Department.