Trump Administration Sues to Block Certification of a Possible Democratic Win in Alaska
The US Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit in Anchorage on October 22 seeking to stop Alaska from certifying its November 3 Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan narrowly loses. President Donald Trump said he ordered the action. With Sullivan in a close race against Democrat Mary Peltola, the outcome could help determine control of a Senate now narrowly held by Republicans.
The administration argues that voters may confuse the senator with Dan J. Sullivan Jr, another candidate whose nearly identical name appears on the ballot. It wants time to investigate whether votes cast for the challenger were intended for the incumbent. Dan J. Sullivan denies trying to divert votes, and the ballot lists him without a party designation while identifying Dan S. Sullivan as the Republican incumbent.
Alaska’s Supreme Court allowed the challenger onto the ballot in June. Election-law experts say the federal case lacks merit and seeks relief unavailable under federal law, while Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said the Justice Department should never have filed it. Peltola argued that the ballot leaves little room for confusion. The pre-emptive challenge has intensified concern about federal interference in certification and whether Trump will accept unfavorable midterm results as polls suggest Republicans could lose one or both chambers of Congress.
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