DOJ sues to block Alaska Senate certification if GOP’s Dan Sullivan loses

The Justice Department is suing Alaska election officials to prevent them from certifying Senate race results if GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan loses next month.

The Justice Department has filed suit against Alaska election officials, seeking to block the results of November’s U.S. Senate election from being certified unless incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan wins — a controversial move President Donald Trump claimed credit for. In papers filed in federal court, attorneys for the DOJ argued the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could mislead supporters of the sitting senator, Daniel S. Sullivan. “For example, some supporters of Senator Sullivan likely will inadvertently vote for Daniel J. Sullivan,” the filing says. “To guard against this danger, it is vital that Defendants not certify any election result that may be impacted by voter confusion,” the suit says.

The Trump administration is seeking a court order blocking the results from being certified “if: (1) Senator Sullivan does not win the election; and (2) had all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan been cast instead for Senator Sullivan and Alaska’s rank-choice process played out accordingly, Senator Sullivan would have won the election.” Trump told reporters Friday that he directed the suit to be filed. “I’m the one that said do it,” Trump said, calling Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy “a disgrace.” The filing by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the action was brought “to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska.” Mary Peltola,