Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that President Trump considers Alaska's Senate race fundamentally unfair because a candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is on the ballot, a situation that could sow confusion and tip the outcome to Democrats.
In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Blanche defended the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to block certification of the Alaska Senate result if Sullivan loses his reelection bid. The suit, filed at Trump's direction, alleges that the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan, a non-incumbent candidate, is designed to mislead voters and could invalidate a victory by Democratic challenger Mary Pelota.
"What he has said repeatedly, repeatedly, is that the reason why this is not fair — this is not a fair fight in his mind — is because there is a man on the ballot with the same name as the incumbent senator, who happens to be a Republican," Blanche said.
The DOJ's legal action asks a court to block certification in a scenario where, if all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan had instead gone to the incumbent, the incumbent would have won. This mirrors concerns raised by Trump's escalating feud with Sen. Murkowski over Alaska's ranked-choice voting, which the president has long criticized.
Blanche emphasized the potential for voter confusion, saying, "There could be a crime. But the real wrong here is that Alaskans are going to be confused and will not have their vote heard." He declined to say whether Trump had directly ordered the lawsuit, citing the confidentiality of presidential communications. "I will never talk about any communications I have with the president of the United States," Blanche said, adding that Trump has been transparent with the public about his concerns.
Alaska election officials had previously attempted to disqualify Daniel J. Sullivan over allegations of entering the race to confuse voters, but state courts allowed him to remain on the ballot. The DOJ's intervention marks an unusual federal foray into a state election, drawing sharp reactions from both parties.
The lawsuit comes as the Justice Department has ramped up election scrutiny ahead of the midterms, with Blanche making the rounds on Sunday political shows to defend the department's actions. Critics argue the suit is an attempt to undermine the integrity of the electoral process, while supporters say it is necessary to protect voters from deceptive ballot practices.
Blanche's remarks underscore the administration's willingness to intervene in state elections, a move that legal experts say could set a precedent for future contests. The case is expected to be heard in federal court in the coming weeks, with the outcome potentially affecting the balance of power in the Senate.
