In brief
The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt the certification of Alaska’s Senate race, arguing that a second candidate sharing the name Dan Sullivan would mislead voters. Democratic challenger Mary Peltola currently leads a tight contest against incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan. President Trump has denounced the challenger as a “scam” and urged the court to invalidate the ballot. The DOJ claims the confusion could undermine election integrity and requests a delay in certifying results if Sullivan loses narrowly. The case raises questions about ballot design and the limits of executive influence on elections
The Trump administration has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt the certification of Alaska’s Senate race, citing that a second candidate named Dan Sullivan could confuse voters.
The Justice Department argues that the duplicate name on the ballot might lead people to mistakenly cast their votes for the wrong candidate, threatening election integrity.
Polls show the seat is a tight contest. Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan currently trails Democratic challenger Mary Peltola, who pulls a narrow lead in the final days before the November 3 vote.
President Trump has called the second Sullivan a “scam” and said his administration is “looking at powerful legal options” to end the candidacy.
In court documents, the retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service worker who filed under the same name says his campaign has no ulterior motive and has denied that he intends to dilute Sullivan’s support.
The DOJ alleges that if Sullivan loses by a margin less than the margin of the other Sullivan, the state must delay certifying results and investigate whether voters were actually confused.
Neither Dan Sullivan nor Mary Peltola has yet commented on the lawsuit.
The Senate race is one of the most watched in the upcoming 2026 midterms, and Alaska’s results could be pivotal. Trump’s approval ratings in the state have slipped, as voters express frustration over rising costs and broader geopolitical tensions.
