Key facts
- Trump administration sued to block Alaska Senate race certification if Republican loses.
- Lawsuit cites potential voter confusion over candidate Dan J. Sullivan.
- The suit would only apply if incumbent Dan S. Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola.
- Alaska courts previously ruled to keep Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot.
The Trump administration has sued to block the certification of Alaska's US Senate race results if the Republican candidate loses, citing potential voter confusion over a candidate with a similar name. The lawsuit, filed against the state of Alaska, argues that the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan could have altered the outcome. Republican candidate Dan J. Sullivan Jr. allegedly entered the race to divert votes from incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. This filing would only apply if Senator Dan S. Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola and the votes for the other Sullivan could have changed the outcome. President Donald Trump has accused the presence of Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot of being a 'scam' intended to confuse voters. Alaska election officials initially sought to exclude Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot due to concerns about voter confusion, but an Alaska trial court and the Alaska Supreme Court ruled against that exclusion. The lawsuit hinges on whether votes for the 'decoy' Sullivan would have changed the winner under Alaska’s ranked choice voting system and if voters intended to vote for the incumbent.