What’s going on with Sullivan? Alaska Senate litigation explained as election stakes rise
Two candidates named Sullivan
Alaska voters will see incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, identified as a registered Republican, on the ballot. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, has no party affiliation; former Rep. Mary Peltola is the Democratic candidate.
Republicans have sought for months to remove Daniel J. Sullivan, arguing his candidacy could confuse voters and divert votes from the senator. He says he is running on his own, and Republicans lost their challenge at the Alaska Supreme Court.
What the lawsuit seeks
Trump said Friday that he instructed the Justice Department to file suit. The case asks a federal court to halt certification if the incumbent loses, pending an investigation into whether confusion over the two candidates changed the outcome.
The filing cites language in the National Voter Registration Act about protecting election integrity. It does not explain how investigators could determine whether voters were misled, given that ballots are confidential.
Experts doubt legal claim
Legal experts say the case has little chance of success. They say the cited language is too vague to justify federal courts overturning an election, which the Constitution leaves to the states.
The lawsuit is effectively on hold unless Dan Sullivan loses. The contest may come down to a few thousand votes and could affect which party controls the Senate.
Broader concerns over intervention
The Justice Department’s effort to challenge certification is unusual. In 2020, career attorneys blocked the department from helping Trump contest his loss to Joe Biden; many career attorneys have since been replaced by Trump loyalists.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday he would not rule out intervention in a “doomsday” scenario, but said improperly interfering in elections was not the department’s intention. The Alaska lawsuit was filed hours later.
Key points
- Two Dan Sullivans are on Alaska’s Senate ballot, alongside Democrat Mary Peltola.
- Trump said he directed the Justice Department to sue over election certification.
- The lawsuit seeks to pause certification if incumbent Dan Sullivan loses.
- Legal experts say the case is unlikely to succeed.