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Alaska

Trump Sues to Block Alaska Senate Election Results Because of Potential Voter "Confusion"

The administration claims voters might be confused between two candidates named "Dan Sullivan."

Ilya Somin | 10.23.2026 3:23 PM

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). (US Senate)

Today, the Trump Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Alaska Senate election results on the grounds they might be influenced by voter "confusion" between incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan and a separate Republican candidate with a very similar name (Dan L. Sullivan). I previously wrote the issues raised by the two Dan Sullivans here. As I pointed out in the earlier post, there is no legal basis for overturning congressional election results based on voter confusion, and any such action would likely violate the First Amendment. See also this analysis by election law specialist Rick Hasen.

I would add that any such federal action also runs afoul of states' primary authority over election procedures. The........

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