DOJ sues to block Alaska vote

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to halt the certification of results in the Alaska Senate race. The suit asks a federal judge to pause the process until the department can determine if voters were confused by a candidate sharing the incumbent’s name. If the Democrat Mary Peltola wins, her victory could shift control of the U.S. Senate.

The dispute centers on Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired school teacher listed on the ballot. He shares his first and last name with Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The New York Times reported that internal texts show the Peltola campaign recruited the younger Sullivan. President Donald Trump called for the Democrat’s prosecution based on that reporting. The White House did not release the internal communications in its public filings.

Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee deny involvement in a coordinated scheme. The Justice Department issued subpoenas to several individuals in a criminal investigation. The department stated it is following the facts and the law rather than a political timetable. Critics note the Justice Department rarely takes such investigative steps within 60 days of a general election.

Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University who served in the Biden administration, said the tactic is common. He stated that while the practice may be distasteful, it is not a violation of federal law. Levitt noted that campaigns frequently recruit candidates with similar names to split votes in primaries.

The current administration has used similar strategies in other states. In Ohio, a group tied to the president urged voters to support a socialist candidate to weaken the Democratic nominee. In Nevada, Republican-backed groups promoted an independent governor’s candidate named Danielle Ford. This candidate shares a surname with the Democratic challenger to the state’s Republican governor. These moves illustrate how both parties use spoiler candidates to influence election outcomes.

Jason Torchinsky, a former Justice Department official, said the Peltola campaign’s financing of the second Sullivan may involve criminal conduct. He argued that Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system makes this tactic more effective. Anyone can file with the state for a $100 fee to appear on the primary ballot. The top four finishers advance to November. In traditional systems, candidates must secure party nominations, which often requires thousands of signatures. This higher barrier makes it harder for low-name-recognition candidates to enter the race.

Defenders of Alaska’s voting method say the system is resistant to manipulation. They argue voters can simply rank both Sullivans and exclude Peltola. Sullivan’s campaign is urging Alaskans to take that approach. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, expects a judge to reject the lawsuit soon. He described the federal suit as frivolous given the history of similar contests.