Federal Judge Rejects DOJ Lawsuit Over Alaska Senate Election

A federal court in Alaska has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to intervene in the state's closely contested Senate election, where Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan faces Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit on November 1, 2026, raising concerns about ballot secrecy and voters' constitutional protections ahead of the November 3 election.

The lawsuit sought to separate and preserve ballots containing votes for another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan. The administration argued that voters could confuse the two candidates, potentially affecting the incumbent senator's electoral prospects.

According to NBC News, the federal government also wanted to prevent certification of the Senate election if Dan Sullivan lost. Alaska's Republican-led state government had opposed that effort in a court filing submitted Saturday.

Judge Sharon Gleason identified the protection of confidential voting as a central obstacle to the government's request. She questioned how investigators could examine disputed ballots without compromising the secrecy guaranteed to voters.

"The absence of any explanation from the United States as to how its requested relief could redress its alleged injury while simultaneously maintaining the secrecy of the ballot is telling," Gleason wrote in her ruling.

The judge also rejected the proposed investigation of voters who selected the second Sullivan, finding that the requested measure would conflict with their voting rights.

"Requiring the segregation of ballots cast by voters for Daniel J. Sullivan so that these voters can be further investigated by law enforcement is not a remedy that this Court can or should order as it clearly violate Alaskans' right to a secret ballot," Gleason wrote.

The Justice Department responded by announcing an appeal shortly after the decision. Its spokesperson maintained that the court had not addressed the administration's underlying allegations concerning the second candidate's participation.

"The court dismissed the case on procedural grounds but did not dispute the argument of the United States that Daniel J. Sullivan (a/k/a Decoy Dan) entered the race as a frivolous candidate to confuse voters. DOJ plans to file a notice of appeal. Alaskan voters deserve a fair election, not to be misled in an attempt to rig outcomes," the department spokesperson said.

The controversy intensified after The New York Times reported that Democratic operatives had helped recruit another Dan J. Sullivan to enter the Senate contest. The candidate secured a place on the general election ballot after winning a primary contest in August.

The report cited statements from Elisa Rios, Peltola's former campaign manager, who was dismissed in August. Rios and several unnamed sources described involvement by campaign operatives and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Rios subsequently sought to retract her statements.

Republican lawmakers and allies have accused Democrats of deliberately introducing the second candidate to confuse voters. Peltola and her campaign have repeatedly denied recruiting him.

In response to the ruling, Peltola's campaign defended the election process and criticized the federal government's intervention.

"No sham investigation or baseless lawsuit from a weaponized Department of Justice is going to stop Alaskans from electing Mary on November 3rd so she can lower costs for Alaska's working families. Alaskans will choose their next U.S. Senator — not Dan Sullivan or his DC allies," a campaign spokesperson told NBC News.

President Donald Trump also addressed the controversy on Truth Social on Sunday, alleging that the second candidate had committed a criminal offense and could not be located by authorities.

"The Fake Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr., has DISAPPEARED! Nobody can find him, including Law Enforcement. He knows that he committed a Criminal Act," Trump wrote.

Incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan described the Democrats' alleged involvement as "rigged and corrupt" during a CNN interview. However, he also addressed his position on the election's outcome.

"I'm going to accept the election results," Sullivan said.

The Alaska dispute comes as both parties make their final campaign efforts ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections. The contests will determine control of Congress, with economic concerns and the Iran war contributing to the national political debate, according to MS NOW.

The New York Times reported that a poll conducted with Siena University showed Democratic Senate candidates leading Republican opponents in nearly all seven major battleground states. Millions of Americans had already cast early ballots as the election approached.