WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES | TUNGARU PRESS | October 25, 2026
The administration of US President Donald Trump has filed a controversial federal lawsuit seeking to prevent Alaska from certifying its November Senate election results under certain circumstances if incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses.
The legal action, brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), centres on concerns that two candidates with nearly identical names could confuse voters and potentially affect the election's outcome.
The dispute involves sitting Senator Dan S. Sullivan and another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who are both competing for the same Senate seat.
Justice Department lawyers argue that voters intending to support the Republican incumbent could mistakenly select the other Sullivan on their ballots.
However, election experts and political figures have questioned whether the federal government has the legal authority to intervene in Alaska's election certification process.
Justice Department Raises Concerns Over Voter Confusion
According to court documents, the Justice Department is seeking an order that would prevent Alaska election officials from certifying the Senate race if specific conditions are met.
The administration wants certification blocked if Senator Sullivan loses and an analysis of votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. indicates that the incumbent would have won had those votes gone to him instead.
The calculation would also take Alaska's ranked-choice voting system into account.
Under that system, voters can rank candidates in order of preference, allowing votes to be redistributed during the counting process when certain candidates are eliminated.
Federal lawyers argue that the presence of two candidates sharing the Sullivan name creates a risk that some voters may unintentionally support the wrong person.
The department maintains that its intervention is necessary to protect the integrity of the election.
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward presented the lawsuit as an effort to ensure that the outcome reflects voters' intentions.
However, the filing has generated criticism because it seeks to delay certification only under circumstances that could disadvantage the Republican incumbent.
Trump Says He Ordered the Lawsuit
President Trump publicly acknowledged that he directed the Justice Department to pursue the legal action.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he personally instructed officials to file the case.
He strongly criticised Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s candidacy, describing it as an attempt to interfere with the incumbent senator's re-election campaign.
Trump and other Republican figures have accused Sullivan Jr. of entering the race to divide the Republican vote and potentially benefit the Democratic candidate.
They have suggested that the similarity between the two candidates' names could mislead voters who are unfamiliar with the distinction.
However, Sullivan Jr. has rejected claims that his campaign is illegitimate or connected to a political effort to undermine the incumbent.
Democratic Candidate Condemns Federal Intervention
Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola strongly criticised the lawsuit, accusing the Trump administration of attempting to influence Alaska's electoral process.
In a social media statement, Peltola argued that the legal action reflected the kind of political interference Alaska voters are increasingly frustrated with.
She accused the Republican incumbent of relying on political allies in Washington to protect his position rather than allowing voters to determine the election's outcome.
Peltola's campaign has previously denied having any involvement with Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s candidacy.
Senator Sullivan's office and campaign did not immediately provide responses to NBC News regarding the lawsuit or Peltola's criticism.
The dispute has intensified political tensions in a closely watched Senate contest that could influence the balance of power in Washington.
Alaska Election Officials Defend Voting Process
Alaska's Division of Elections said it was reviewing the federal complaint while continuing preparations for the November election.
The agency emphasised that its priority remains conducting the election properly and ensuring voters have confidence that their ballots will be counted.
Officials also highlighted existing measures designed to reduce confusion.
These include information provided through the state's official election pamphlet, assistance from polling station workers and other voting support permitted under state law.
Importantly, the November ballot clearly distinguishes the two candidates.
The incumbent is listed as Dan S. Sullivan, with labels identifying him as a registered Republican and the sitting senator.
The other candidate appears as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., without a political party affiliation listed beside his name.
State officials maintain that voters have access to information that allows them to identify their preferred candidates.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski Opposes Lawsuit
The Justice Department's intervention has also drawn criticism from within the Republican Party.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski publicly opposed the lawsuit, arguing that federal involvement was unnecessary.
Murkowski said Alaska voters were capable of identifying the candidates they wished to support.
She pointed out that state election officials had already addressed potential confusion by clearly distinguishing the two Sullivans on the ballot.
The Republican senator argued that the Justice Department should not have initiated the legal challenge.
Her comments demonstrate that opposition to the administration's intervention extends beyond Democratic politicians.
Legal Experts Question Federal Authority
Election law specialists have raised concerns about the legal basis for the lawsuit.
In the United States, elections are primarily administered by state and local authorities, which are responsible for counting ballots and certifying official results.
The Justice Department has responsibilities involving the enforcement of federal election laws, including protections for voting rights and investigations into electoral misconduct.
However, experts question whether those responsibilities allow the department to prevent a state from certifying an election based on concerns about candidate-name confusion.
Justin Levitt, a former Justice Department official who served during the Obama administration, told NBC News that he was unaware of any law authorising the department to challenge ballots or delay certification in the manner requested.
David Becker, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, also criticised the intervention.
Becker described the lawsuit as an extraordinary attempt by the federal government to influence a state-managed election process.
He argued that Alaska's election certification procedures fall under state law and that the federal government
