(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The Trump administration is pushing back against unfounded accusations of election interference after the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Alaska over what the Alaska Division of Elections has characterized as a scheme to confuse voters in the state’s U.S. Senate race.
Attorney General Todd Blanche and other DOJ officials defended the lawsuit over the weekend in a series of televised interviews, clarifying that the DOJ is seeking to protect election integrity rather than interfere with Alaska’s election. At the center of the controversy is the presence of two Dan Sullivans on the ballot.
The Senate seat is currently held by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. However, an Alaska man named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. also entered the race, triggering the possibility of mass confusion for voters already perplexed by Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.
The Alaska Division of Elections previously determined that the random Sullivan only entered the race to “confuse and mislead” voters. Despite this, state courts ultimately allowed him to remain on the ballot.
The DOJ lawsuit, filed Oct. 22, asks a federal judge to prevent Alaska from certifying the Senate election in the event that voter confusion impacted the outcome. Specifically, the DOJ would investigate whether votes for the random Sullivan were meant for the GOP Sen. Sullivan.
Blanche rejected claims that the lawsuit was designed to ensure Sen. Sullivan’s victory.
“The Department of Justice does not seek to stop any ballot from being cast or to stop the certification of Alaska’s election,” Blanche wrote on X. “This litigation seeks to ensure that after Alaskans cast their ballots, they are preserved in a manner so that only Alaska’s governing officials have the information necessary to make a determination as to whether Alaskan voters were confused or mislead.”
🚨 JUST IN: AG Todd Blanche catches Dana Bash RED-HANDED misleading viewers on Alaska cheating and he FORCES her to correct on-air
"CONVENIENTLY, you put the Constitution on your screen, but you highlighted only the first clause! Why don't you show the NEXT CLAUSE to your… pic.twitter.com/nHrUQoxhin
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 25, 2026
Blanche clarified that the lawsuit was “written by Justice Department attorneys and the Department did not coordinate with any campaign or candidate, but rather relied solely on federal law.”
The DOJ’s Rapid Response account on X also pushed back against claims that the department was attempting to halt Alaska’s election.
“Claims that DOJ is trying to stop Alaska’s election are FALSE. Alaska’s Division of Elections determined that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy was intended to mislead voters and meddle in the election for his favor.”
The page said that “we are seeking to protect election integrity, consistent with the National Voter Registration Act (enacted by Congress) and ensure the will of Alaska voters is respected.”
Claims that DOJ is trying to stop Alaska’s election are FALSE.
Alaska’s Division of Elections determined that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy was intended to mislead voters and meddle in the election for his favor.
Therefore, we are seeking to protect election integrity, consistent… pic.twitter.com/9oTGjiGKRy
— DOJ Rapid Response (@DOJRR47) October 23, 2026
The election is scheduled for this November.
