Justice Department attempts to block certification of Alaska Senate race if Republican loses

As of October 28, 2026, the Department of Justice faces significant legal challenges in its attempt to block Alaska's Senate election certification if Republican Senator Dan Sullivan narrowly loses. The DOJ filed a lawsuit on October 23 arguing that another candidate with nearly identical names, Daniel J. Sullivan, could confuse voters and potentially mislead Alaskan citizens who wish to vote for the incumbent. However, Judge Sharon Gleason has expressed skepticism about the last-minute nature of the DOJ's actions.

The case centers around two Republican Senate candidates: Dan S. Sullivan (incumbent) and Daniel J. Sullivan. Opponents argue that sharing a name does not justify disqualification under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. The lawsuit seeks to prevent certification if Dan S. Sullivan loses and it is determined that he would have won had votes for Daniel J. Sullivan been cast for him instead.

Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif., criticized the DOJ's actions as part of an effort to subvert elections, while Republicans claim Democrats support Daniel J. Sullivan to confuse voters in favor of their candidate. The legal maneuvering by the Trump administration has drawn significant criticism and skepticism from both political parties and legal experts.