Alaska's Republican-controlled state government is pushing back against a federal lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, urging a judge to throw out the case before it can disrupt the certification of the state's midterm election results. In a motion filed Monday, state attorneys argue the DOJ overstepped its legal bounds and that the ballot already includes measures to prevent voter confusion.
The lawsuit, filed last week at the direction of President Trump, alleges that the presence of a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the same ballot as incumbent GOP Senator Dan Sullivan could mislead voters and give an unfair edge to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola. The DOJ claims the name-twin candidate entered the race with the intent to deceive supporters of the sitting senator.
But in its motion to dismiss, the state's legal team contends that the elections division has gone to significant lengths to differentiate the two candidates on the ballot. The filing asserts that the federal government lacks any constitutional authority to intervene in state-run elections, and it accuses the DOJ of effectively picking sides in the race.
“The United States lacks authority to intervene in state elections at all, much less in support of a favored candidate,” the state's attorneys wrote, adding that “the complaint has no legal basis.”
A copy of the designed ballot attached to the state's filing shows the word “incumbent” next to Senator Sullivan's name, along with his party affiliation. The other candidate is listed as “Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.” without a party designation, and the two are distinguished by their middle initials—Dan S. Sullivan versus Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
The DOJ's original complaint warned that certifying results with the name-twin candidate on the ballot would “fail” the state's obligation to protect election integrity. Attorney General Todd Blanche later clarified that the department is not seeking to halt certification outright but rather to ensure ballots are preserved so officials can later determine if voters were confused.
Meanwhile, Peltola's campaign has also filed a motion to dismiss, calling the lawsuit “wholly baseless.” The nonprofit watchdog Common Cause, represented by the ACLU, has moved to intervene in the case as well, arguing that the DOJ's action is an improper federal intrusion into state election processes.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason ordered an expedited schedule, giving the federal government until 5 p.m. Tuesday to respond to the motions from Peltola and Common Cause. The case is moving quickly, with the election certification deadline looming.
This legal battle comes amid broader political tensions over election administration and federal oversight. The DOJ's involvement has drawn sharp criticism from Alaska's Republican leaders, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has previously broken with her party on key votes. The outcome could set a precedent for how far the federal government can go in challenging state election procedures.
As the case unfolds, it adds another layer of uncertainty to an already contentious midterm cycle. The state's motion to dismiss will likely be the first major test of whether the courts will allow the DOJ to intervene in this manner, or whether they will side with Alaska's argument that election administration is a matter for the states.
