Alaska's Republican Government Pushes Back Against Trump Administration's Election Lawsuit

Alaska's Republican-led state government has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration seeking to block certification of a possible Democratic victory in the state's closely contested U.S. Senate race.

In an unusually forceful legal filing, Alaska's attorney general's office described the Justice Department's lawsuit as meritless and an unwarranted intrusion into the state's constitutional authority to administer elections.

The dispute centers on the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola, while a second candidate, retired schoolteacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., is also running.

Republicans allege that the second Sullivan was recruited to confuse voters and divert support from the incumbent. A New York Times investigation reported communications and financial connections suggesting Democratic political operatives were involved in recruiting the candidate. Peltola has denied involvement.

The Justice Department's Intervention

President Donald Trump acknowledged directing the Justice Department to file the lawsuit, which seeks to prevent certification of a possible Peltola victory until authorities determine whether voter confusion affected the outcome.

The administration subsequently requested that ballots cast for the second Sullivan be separated for investigation.

Alaska officials rejected that proposal as both impractical and a potential violation of voter privacy. They noted that ballots clearly distinguish between the incumbent Republican senator and the independent candidate.

The Alaska Supreme Court had already ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. met the legal requirements to appear on the ballot.

A Republican State Government Defends Its Authority

Although Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has condemned the circumstances surrounding the second Sullivan's candidacy and initiated a state investigation, his administration maintains that those concerns do not justify federal interference with election certification.

State officials argue that even if political operatives engaged in questionable tactics, the second Sullivan's lawful ballot qualification remains unchanged.

The state has asked U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason to dismiss the lawsuit permanently and allow Alaska to conduct its election, count ballots, and certify results without federal intervention.

Broader Legal and Constitutional Questions

The Justice Department argues that federal election law gives it responsibility to protect election integrity. Alaska officials and voting-rights organizations contend that the administration is relying on general language in the National Voter Registration Act that does not authorize federal control over state certification procedures.

The American Civil Liberties Union, Peltola's campaign, and Alaska's Republican-led government have all called for dismissal.

The dispute comes as the Justice Department has issued subpoenas and opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the second Sullivan's candidacy.

The case presents an unusual confrontation between a Republican presidential administration and a Republican state government over the limits of federal authority in elections.

At the time of the report, Judge Gleason had not ruled on the dismissal requests.

Source and Attribution: Reporting by Nicholas Riccardi and Becky Bohrer, The Associated Press, updated October 31, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST. Summary prepared for the Reviving Our Republic Analyzer.