NewsWPLG Local 10 – PoliticsOctober 23, 2026Miami-Dade County
Trump Administration Sues to Block Alaska Senate Certification Over Ballot Confusion
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Politics
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to block Alaska from certifying its U.S. Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola while a third-party candidate with the same name, Daniel J. Sullivan, remains on the ballot. The legal challenge demands an investigation into whether votes cast for the independent candidate were intended for the incumbent senator.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – PoliticsWhy It Matters
The lawsuit creates a potential post-election legal battle over election certification in a high-stakes Senate contest that could determine party control of Congress.
Key Facts
- The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in federal court in Alaska to block certification of the U.S. Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.
- The lawsuit targets a scenario where independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, who shares a name with the incumbent, remains on the ballot.
- Republicans contend that Daniel J. Sullivan is a Democratic plant designed to siphon votes, while the independent candidate states he decided to run on his own.
- The Alaska Supreme Court previously rejected a Republican effort to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot.
- In the August nonpartisan primary, Sen. Dan Sullivan received over 68,000 votes, while Daniel J. Sullivan received 4,107 votes (about 2% of the total).
- The lawsuit was filed 11 days before the Nov. 3 election and months after final ballot placement was decided.
- The U.S. Constitution grants states the power to run their own elections, though federal elections must comply with congressional standards.
- Legal experts note that federal statutes generally do not allow the Department of Justice to enjoin state election certification.
Who's Mentioned
PersonSherrod Brown“Former Democratic Senator”OrganizationDemocratic Senatorial Campaign Committee“Democratic campaign organization”locationOhio“State referenced in a comparison regarding third-party candidates”OrganizationAssociated Press“News organization”locationNew York“Location of Associated Press writer Ali Swenson”locationAlaska“State where the Senate election and lawsuit are taking place”PersonMary Peltola“Democratic candidate and former congresswoman running for the U.S. Senate in Ala”PersonJon Husted“Republican Senator in Ohio”PersonDaniel J. Sullivan“Independent candidate with the same name from Petersburg appearing on the Alaska”OrganizationUniversity of Notre Dame“Academic institution where Derek Muller teaches”PersonJoe Biden“Former Democratic president”PersonDevan Barber“Executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee”OrganizationAlaska Supreme Court“State court that previously rejected a Republican effort to remove Daniel J. Sul”locationVirginia“State where U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke”PersonTodd Blanche“U.S. Attorney General”PersonDerek Muller“Law professor at the University of Notre Dame”PersonDonald Trump“Republican President whose administration filed the lawsuit”PersonDan Sullivan“Republican U.S. Senator running for reelection in Alaska”PersonAli Swenson“Associated Press writer contributing to the report”locationPetersburg“Tiny fishing community in Alaska”PersonStanley Woodward“Associate U.S. Attorney General who signed the lawsuit”OrganizationDepartment of Justice“Federal agency that filed the lawsuit”