Trump sues Alaska because two candidates have the same name
Donald Trump said he ordered his administration to sue the state of Alaska over an upcoming election where two candidates have the same name.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against election officials in Alaska to stop them certifying an election result in the upcoming Senate election.
President Donald Trump talks with Sen. Dan Sullivan at a campaign event earlier this month. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Their argument is that because two candidates on the ballot have the same name, it could cause voter confusion.
The incumbent senator, Republican Dan S Sullivan, is facing off against Democrat Mary Peltola in a race that polling shows to be very close.
But also on the ballot is another candidate named Daniel J Sullivan.
Under Alaska election law, the top four candidates in the primary are put on the same ballot for the general election.
Voters can then number their preferences in a manner similar to an Australian election.
But the Department of Justice accused the second Sullivan of running for the seat with the intention of confusing voters.
"Daniel J. Sullivan decided to run for Senator in 2026 as a Republican with the intention of misleading supporters of Senator Sullivan into voting for him," the lawsuit states.
"The sole purpose of his candidacy is to benefit the Peltola campaign by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan."
The Justice Department said the state must not be allowed to "certify any electoral results tainted by the inclusion on the ballot of Daniel J. Sullivan".
Dan Sullivan (left) and Dan Sullivan (right) are both Republicans running for Senate in Alaska. AP Photo/Mark Thiessen; Becky Bohrer
Trump himself said he demanded the lawsuit.
"I'm the one that said do it," the president said.
"The Democrats put up a guy who never voted before. All of sudden he decides to run for the Senate."
The Peltola campaign has denied having any involvement with the second Sullivan.
He himself has denied his campaign is a sham.
"I have every right to run for whatever office I’m qualified for, and I’m qualified for this office," he told Associated Press in June.
"I think I’m doing what most Americans would think would be a patriotic thing to do when you’re unsatisfied with the status quo."
Peltola decried the lawsuit in a statement.
"This is the corruption (Alaska) is fed up with, and it's why I'm in this race," she said.
"Sullivan has enriched himself at our expense for 12 years. Now he’s using his DC allies to try to keep himself in power and put his own interests ahead of Alaskans.
"We will make sure every Alaskan is heard."
The Alaska seat could be critical in determining which party controls the Senate after November's midterm elections.
Mary Peltola would be the first Democrat elected to represent Alaska in the Senate since 2008. AP Photo/Mark Thiessen
Polling this month shows Peltola has a narrow lead in the election, with the second Sullivan polling in the low single digits.
The state is typically Republican-leaning, but Peltola has established herself as an independent-minded populist with a platform of "Fish, family and freedom".
This is not the first election where candidates have taken advantage of name confusion on the ballot.
When long-time Democratic congressman Mike Doyle retired in 2022, a Republican also named Mike Doyle ran to replace him.
While he didn't win, he did outperform expectations.
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