Two Dan Sullivans, one Senate race: Trump DOJ challenges Alaska election result ahead of midterms
WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s US Senate election results if Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, citing concerns that another candidate with a similar name could confuse voters.
Alaska is set for a closely contested race between Republican Dan Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola, which could help determine the balance of power in the Senate.
NEW: The Trump administration sued Alaska to prevent certification of its U.S. Senate election if incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan loses and votes for another candidate named Daniel Sullivan could have changed the outcome, alleging voter confusion under federal law. https://t.co/Y8zV0Pt5qH
— SCOTUS Wire (@scotus_wire) October 23, 2026
Trump admin files lawsuit over Alaska Senate election results
The lawsuit stems from the presence of a third Senate candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, whose name closely resembles that of incumbent Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan.
The lawsuit alleges that Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy could confuse voters. It asks a court to potentially delay certification if the incumbent loses, pending an investigation into whether votes cast for the other Sullivan were intended for the senator.
“The United States likewise suffers an injury when the certification of the election for a federal office is tainted by a frivolous candidacy because that undermines confidence in the make-up and workings of the federal government,” the lawsuit says.
In a report by CNN, Derek Muller, an election law professor at Notre Dame Law School, described the legal theory as “strange and unusual” and questioned how a court could intervene in the manner sought by the Justice Department.
Although reliable polling in the Alaska Senate race has been limited, the contest could prove consequential for control of the Senate. Incumbent Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are competing in a closely contested race. Democrats are hoping to flip Republican-held seats to gain control of the chamber.
Republicans allege second Sullivan’s candidacy could confuse voters
The presence of the third candidate with an almost identical name to incumbent has become a source of controversy and litigation. Republicans have alleged that the candidacy is designed to confuse voters and divert support from the senator.
While Daniel J Sullivan is a registered Republican but appears on the general election ballot without a party affiliation. The incumbent is listed as “Registered Republican” and “incumbent.”
In the primary, the incumbent Dan Sullivan won 68,726 votes, while Daniel J. Sullivan received 4,107.
President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that the presence of a second Sullivan amounts to cheating and that his administration might take legal action over the issue.
“It’s ridiculous that the Court didn’t stop this SCAM. Even 1, 2, or 3% could make the difference,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“We are looking at powerful legal options to remove the fraudulent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the Ballot, and holding the Democrats accountable for their Election Interference, in the pursuit of Justice and Fairness.”
Trump reiterated his cheating argument during an election rally in Wasilla, Alaska, this month.
“It’s just cheating,” he said of the ballot having two Dan Sullivans. “They found a guy named Dan Sullivan. They put him up to get a little confused.”
