Justice Department sues to block Alaska Senate certification if Dan Sullivan loses

The Trump administration argues the presence of another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan could mislead voters and seeks a court order to stop certification of a Peltola victory.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:01:35 GMT

The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit on Friday seeking to block Alaska state officials from certifying the 2026 U.S. Senate election unless incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan wins, according to three news outlets.

What happened

The filing, submitted in Alaska federal court, asks a judge to prevent certification of the election results if Sen. Dan Sullivan does not prevail. The suit contends that votes cast for another Republican, Daniel J. Sullivan, could be mistakenly counted for the incumbent, potentially altering the outcome under Alaska’s ranked‑choice voting system. The complaint states the Department is acting to “protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska.”

What the reports add

NBC News notes that the DOJ’s argument hinges on the possibility that supporters of Senator Sullivan might inadvertently vote for Daniel J. Sullivan, whose name appears on the ballot with the same party affiliation. The filing, attributed to Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, specifies two conditions for relief: (1) Senator Sullivan does not win, and (2) if all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan had been counted for the incumbent, Sullivan would have won.

CBS News adds that the government alleges Daniel J. Sullivan deliberately sought to confuse voters, potentially benefiting Democratic challenger former Rep. Mary Peltola. The filing also warns that voters could be misled about how to rank the three Republican candidates.

The Independent reports that the lawsuit is expected to spark a prolonged legal battle between federal authorities and Alaska state officials. It identifies the other Republican on the ballot, Gerald Heikes, and notes that Daniel J. Sullivan hails from Petersburg, a small fishing community.

What was said

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the action was brought “to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska.” The DOJ filing states, “some supporters of Senator Sullivan likely will inadvertently vote for Daniel J. Sullivan.”

How it came about

The lawsuit follows a recent Trump rally in Wasilla, Alaska, where the former president campaigned for Sen. Dan Sullivan on October 13, 2026 (Felo News). The close race, featuring Democrat Mary Peltola and three Republicans, has drawn national attention as Alaska’s ranked‑choice system could amplify any voter‑confusion effects.

Key facts

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit in Alaska federal court to block certification of the Senate election unless Dan Sullivan wins. (nbcnews.com)
The filing argues that voters could be confused by the presence of another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot. (cbsnews.com)
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward is identified as the DOJ official who signed the filing. (nbcnews.com)