Democratic groups and voting-rights advocates are seeking to join an Alaska Senate lawsuit to oppose the Justice Department’s effort to prevent the state from certifying the election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.

Key Takeaways

  • The Justice Department filed its lawsuit on October 22, 2026, over potential confusion between two candidates named Sullivan.
  • Democratic groups want permission to join the case and seek its dismissal.
  • Alaska courts previously ordered the other Sullivan’s inclusion on the ballot.

What the Alaska Senate lawsuit seeks

The Justice Department is seeking an order to stop certification if the incumbent loses. The dispute centers on whether voters who select another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, intended to vote for Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan.

President Donald Trump told reporters on October 23 that he had directed the department to file the lawsuit. Alaska’s other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, criticized the move, saying the department should never have brought the case.

Groups seek a role in the case

Mary Peltola’s campaign, Alaskans for Mary, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee are asking to join as defendants so they can seek dismissal. They argue that the lawsuit could prevent Peltola from taking office if she wins under Alaska’s ranked-choice system.

The League of Women Voters of Alaska, Common Cause and two voters filed a separate request to join. They argue that investigating voter intent poses constitutional risks and that blocking certification would deny Alaskans representation.

Why two Sullivans appear on the ballot

Alaska election officials initially removed Daniel J. Sullivan, the non-incumbent candidate, after a state Republican Party complaint. State courts ordered him restored, and the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed that decision in June.

The ballot identifies Sen. Sullivan as the incumbent and a Republican. Daniel J. Sullivan has no party registration. The proposed intervenors argue that federal law does not authorize the Justice Department to dictate candidate eligibility or ballot layout.

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