Alaska's Republican-led administration filed a motion on Monday asking a federal judge to throw out a Department of Justice lawsuit that seeks to block the state from certifying its midterm election results. The state's filing argues that the DOJ has no legal standing to interfere in state-run elections and that the lawsuit is politically motivated.
The DOJ suit, filed last week, alleges that the presence of a candidate sharing the name of incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan could confuse voters and give an unfair edge to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola. The lawsuit specifically targets Daniel J. Sullivan, a Republican who entered the race with what the DOJ claims was the intent to mislead supporters of the incumbent senator.
In its motion to dismiss, Alaska's attorneys contend that the state's elections division has already taken significant steps to differentiate the two candidates on the ballot, including listing the incumbent with the word "incumbent" next to his name and using distinct middle initials: "Sullivan, Dan S." for the senator and "Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr." for the challenger. The state's filing asserts that "the United States lacks authority to intervene in state elections at all, much less in support of a favored candidate," and that "the complaint has no legal basis."
The DOJ's lawsuit, which President Trump said he directed, argues that if Alaska certifies results tainted by the inclusion of Daniel J. Sullivan, the state would fail to protect the integrity of its election. Attorney General Todd Blanche, however, clarified that the department is not trying to halt certification but rather to preserve ballots so that state officials can later determine whether voters were confused or misled.
Legal experts note that the DOJ's unusual intervention in a state election process has drawn sharp criticism. The state's filing includes a copy of the designed ballot, showing the incumbent's party affiliation and the word "incumbent," which the state says makes the distinction clear to voters.
Peltola's campaign has also filed a motion to dismiss, calling the DOJ lawsuit "wholly baseless." The nonprofit watchdog Common Cause, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, has moved to intervene in the case. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason expedited the proceedings, ordering the federal government to respond by 5 p.m. Tuesday to both motions.
The case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over federal overreach in state elections, a theme that has resonated in midterm fallout may upend year-end government funding talks. Critics of the lawsuit see it as an attempt to influence the Alaska Senate race, while supporters argue it is necessary to protect electoral integrity.
Alaska's unique ranked-choice voting system adds another layer of complexity, as voters rank candidates in order of preference. The state's GOP leadership, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has backed a Democrat for governor, has largely stayed out of the fray. Meanwhile, Vice President Vance has defended the lawsuit, calling the name-twin candidate a "fraud."
The court's decision could have significant implications for how the federal government interacts with state election processes. As the legal battle unfolds, all eyes are on Judge Gleason's next move, with a ruling expected in the coming days.
