ALASKA (TNND) — The Trump administration sued Alaska on Thursday, alleging a second candidate named Dan Sullivan could confuse voters in the state’s Senate race.
The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to block certification if an investigation finds that votes for Daniel J. Sullivan could have changed the outcome.
Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is running for reelection against Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman. The lawsuit alleges Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy was intended to confuse voters and reduce support for the incumbent, potentially benefiting Peltola.
The complaint cites the Alaska Division of Elections director’s earlier finding that the challenger filed to run “for the purpose of confusing or misleading voters and compromising the fairness of the ballot.”
It says Daniel J. Sullivan asked to appear as “Dan Sullivan,” changed his party affiliation to Republican shortly before filing, and used a campaign website similar to the senator’s. He received 2.5% of the vote in the August primary, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit does not ask the court to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot. It asks the court to block certification if Sen. Sullivan loses and an investigation finds that enough votes cast for the challenger were meant for the senator to change the result under Alaska’s ranked-choice system.
Trump suggested earlier this week that his administration might take legal action over Daniel J. Sullivan’s place on the ballot.
“I am very concerned about the Dan S. Sullivan Race for the U.S. Senate in Alaska in that it is totally confusing, with the Dumocrats putting up another man, totally unrelated to Politics, named Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“It’s ridiculous that the Court didn’t stop this SCAM. Even 1, 2, or 3% could make the difference,” Trump continued. “Dan S. Sullivan is leading by a lot, but this is CHEATING in an Election, and the Judge that allowed this to happen should be ashamed of himself. We are looking at powerful legal options to remove the fraudulent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the Ballot, and holding the Democrats accountable for their Election Interference, in the pursuit of Justice and Fairness.”
At a rally in Alaska last week, Trump also called it “cheating” to have two Dan Sullivans on the ballot. “They found a guy named Dan Sullivan. They put him up to get a little confused,” he said.
The Alaska Division of Elections removed Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot, but a trial court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed. He is set to appear without a party designation next to his name; the senator will be listed as the Republican incumbent. Alaska’s ranked-choice system allows voters to rank both candidates.
The lawsuit was filed 11 days before the Nov. 3 election, months after the ballot was set.