Trump Thinks Alaskans Could Vote for the Wrong Sullivan. What Can the DOJ Do?
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit saying Alaska voters could confuse candidates with similar names. Experts question its authority.
On October 13, 2026, an election-related lawsuit was filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Alaska. The lawsuit aims to prevent the certification of Senate race results if Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan loses. The DOJ is concerned that the similar names of the two candidates, Republican senator Dan S. Sullivan and Democrat challenger Daniel J. Sullivan, could lead to voter confusion.
The lawsuit proposes recalculating the ranked-choice count as if Daniel J. Sullivan's votes had gone to the Republican incumbent instead. President Trump has expressed concern over the race, stating that even a small percentage difference could change the outcome. Voting rights experts have criticized the lawsuit as a "garbage lawsuit" and an unprecedented intervention by the federal government.
The lawsuit's legality is questioned due to its thin and absurd claim, and it is seen as a signal to the public and press that the Trump Administration is prepared to act if the results go against their interests.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
