Democrats Seek to Join Suit Against DOJ Bid to Block Alaska Senate Certification if Sullivan Loses
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Oct 24
Democrats Seek to Join Suit Against DOJ Bid to Block Alaska Senate Certification if Sullivan Loses
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Oct 24
Summary
Alaskans for Mary, the DSCC, the League of Women Voters of Alaska and Common Cause asked a federal court Friday to join the case and fight the Justice Department's bid to stop Alaska certifying its Senate result.
The filings target an Oct. 22 DOJ lawsuit, personally ordered by President Donald Trump, that would bar certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses while investigators probe whether votes for another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, were miscast.
Mary Peltola's campaign and allied groups say the executive branch has no authority to override a state-run election, and they want defendant-intervenor status so they can move to dismiss the case.
The dispute stems from two similarly named candidates on Alaska's ballot; after courts required Daniel J. Sullivan's inclusion, the state labeled the incumbent as "incumbent" and Republican to distinguish him.
Lisa Murkowski joined broader backlash, saying DOJ should never have filed the suit, while advocates warned blocking certification could disenfranchise Alaskans and leave the state without representation.
Could a simple ballot design flaw completely overturn a major election, or is retroactive voter intent impossible to prove?
Federal Lawsuit Threatens Alaska Senate Election Certification: DOJ, Trump, and the Battle Over Ranked-Choice Voting in 2026
Overview
In October 2026, amid record-low approval ratings driven by rising fuel prices and a narrow Senate majority, President Trump directed the DOJ to file a federal lawsuit against Alaska’s election officials, claiming that the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot could confuse voters and impact the Senate race. The lawsuit, which sought to block certification of the election, quickly faced bipartisan criticism and legal challenges from Democratic groups and civil rights advocates. Alaska’s clear ballot design and primary results showed little actual confusion, while local leaders and legal experts condemned the federal intervention as lacking legal basis and threatening state election integrity.