In Alaska race, Trump targets a long, sometimes sordid political tradition of ‘spoiler’ candidates

President Donald Trump's administration has targeted a decades-old political tactic - the use of "spoiler" candidates - in the Alaska Senate race. The practice involves recruiting a candidate with the same name as the incumbent to siphon off votes from the rival party. In Alaska, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is facing three other challengers, including a retired schoolteacher named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The Trump administration has sued to prevent certification of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's victory until it can be determined if voters were confused by the second Sullivan's presence on the ballot.

Critics argue that Trump is using the Justice Department to target political adversaries, a practice not seen in modern American elections.