The US Justice Department sued Alaska on Thursday, seeking to delay Senate election certification if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses and his namesake’s votes could have changed the result.
The lawsuit asks a federal court to pause certification while officials investigate whether voters who selected Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. intended to support Senator Sullivan.
Justice Department lawyers argue that two similarly named candidates could affect the result under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had directed the department to file the case. He later described Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. as a fake candidate.
Alaska’s Division of Elections previously concluded that the retired teacher’s candidacy was intended to mislead voters. The Alaska Supreme Court nevertheless ordered election officials in June to include him on the ballot.
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State ballot materials distinguish the candidates. Senator Sullivan appears with his middle initial, Republican affiliation and incumbent status, while the other candidate appears as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has argued that his candidacy is not a sham. Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement in his decision to run after Republicans accused Democrats of trying to confuse voters.
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In the primary, Peltola received 49.5% of the vote, Senator Sullivan about 41% and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. 2.5%.
The US Justice Department sued Alaska, seeking to delay certification of its Senate election under specified conditions if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses.
