ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska’s Republican-led state government is urging a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice at President Donald Trump’s direction, arguing that the administration’s demand to separate certain Senate ballots is legally baseless and impossible to carry out without violating voter privacy.
In a court filing submitted Saturday, October 31, 2026, attorneys representing Alaska described the federal government’s latest request as “disturbing and impossible.” They argued that election officials cannot identify and separate ballots cast for a second candidate named Dan Sullivan without compromising the secrecy of individual votes.
The lawsuit seeks to prevent certification of a possible Democratic victory in Alaska’s closely watched U.S. Senate election, where former Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola is challenging Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan.
The dispute has drawn national attention because of concerns about federal involvement in state election administration ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
Alaska Challenges Federal Lawsuit
The Alaska Department of Law has asked U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to dismiss the Justice Department’s lawsuit with prejudice, meaning the case would be dismissed without the possibility of bringing the same claims again.
State attorneys argued that the federal government has presented no sufficient legal basis for interfering with Alaska’s election procedures.
The lawsuit asks the court to block certification of the Senate election if the results show Peltola defeating Sullivan. The Justice Department argues that votes cast for another candidate with a similar name could have affected the outcome.
Alaska officials maintain that the state’s election procedures are a matter for state authorities and that the federal government has not demonstrated grounds for the intervention it is seeking.
Dispute Centres on Two Candidates Named Dan Sullivan
At the heart of the controversy is the presence of two candidates with similar names on the November ballot.
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is seeking re-election, while another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska, is also running for the Senate.
The Justice Department has questioned whether voters could confuse the two candidates and mistakenly cast ballots for the second Sullivan when they intended to support the incumbent senator.
However, Alaska officials say the ballot clearly distinguishes the candidates. The incumbent is identified as a Republican and the sitting senator, while the other candidate appears as Daniel J. Sullivan.
The Alaska Supreme Court previously ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan was legally entitled to appear on the ballot after challenging the state’s initial decision to exclude him.
State attorneys argue that election officials took steps to reduce potential confusion and that voters using Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system can rank both candidates if they wish.
Justice Department Seeks to Separate Certain Ballots
The controversy intensified after the Justice Department submitted an additional request on Friday seeking to have ballots showing votes for Daniel J. Sullivan separated from other ballots.
The department wants the court to allow an assessment of whether voters were confused by the similar names and whether those votes could have influenced the Senate election.
Alaska’s attorneys rejected the proposal, arguing that ballots are secret and cannot be traced back to individual voters to establish their intentions.
They said separating the ballots for the purpose requested by the federal government would undermine voter privacy and interfere with the state’s established election procedures.
The state has therefore asked the judge to reject the additional request alongside the broader lawsuit.
Trump Demands Investigation Into Mary Peltola
President Trump has also called for Peltola to face prosecution following reports suggesting that people associated with her campaign may have helped recruit the second Dan Sullivan to enter the Senate race.
The reports cited internal messages and online posts that appeared to indicate campaign involvement in encouraging the retired teacher to run.
Peltola has denied involvement in recruiting the candidate. The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation and issued subpoenas as part of its inquiries.
The allegations have added another dimension to the dispute, although the claims have not established that Peltola committed an offence.
Alaska’s legal filing argues that the allegations do not justify federal intervention in the state’s election certification process.
Federal Judge Considers Alaska’s Request
U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason set Saturday as the deadline for the parties to submit arguments on whether the lawsuit should be dismissed without a hearing.
The timing of the case has also attracted attention because the Alaska Supreme Court had already ruled that the second Sullivan could appear on the ballot before the Justice Department filed its lawsuit.
Voting in the November election had also begun by the time the federal government initiated the legal action.
The judge’s decision will determine whether the Justice Department can continue pursuing its request to delay or prevent certification under the circumstances outlined in the lawsuit.
Alaska Senate Dispute Raises Wider Election Concerns
The legal battle has become part of a broader national debate over election administration, voter privacy and the limits of federal authority over state-run elections.
Alaska officials insist that the state should be allowed to complete its election, count ballots and certify the results according to established procedures.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department maintains that its intervention is intended to address possible voter confusion and protect the integrity of the Senate election.
With the November midterm elections approaching, the outcome of the case could attract further attention from election officials, voting-rights organizations and legal experts across the United States.
For now, Alaska is asking the federal court to dismiss the lawsuit and allow the state’s election process to proceed without the requested federal restrictions.
Swifteradio.com
