Department of Justice investigating Alaska Senate race just days ahead of midterms

As of November 4, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice has dramatically expanded its criminal investigation into allegations of voter confusion tactics in Alaska's Senate race involving Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The DOJ issued subpoenas to multiple individuals, including top Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias, warning them they could be targets for potential prosecution related to efforts to recruit a second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. in the race. This move follows a New York Times report that linked Peltola’s campaign and Democratic operatives to recruiting the namesake challenger with the intent of confusing voters and possibly swaying votes away from Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, who is facing a close contest. The Justice Department under President Trump's administration filed a civil lawsuit last week seeking to prevent certification of election results if Sullivan loses due to alleged voter confusion caused by the second "Decoy Dan." This investigation, now including grand jury subpoenas and target letters, marks a significant escalation in the DOJ’s probe into Alaska's Senate race.