DOJ Alaska Senate Lawsuit: Blanche Clarifies Certification Limits Before Election
Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday, October 25, 2026 defended a Justice Department lawsuit that asks a court to block Alaska from automatically certifying its U.S. Senate election results if the Republican incumbent loses.[1]
Blanche said the DOJ is not "laying any groundwork" for midterm challenges and insisted President Trump is not trying to take over a state election "in any way, shape, or form." NPR He framed the suit's requested remedy as asking Alaska "to not certify if the law is broken." NPR He said the case tests whether a confusing ballot with two Dan Sullivans violated federal law and the Constitution.[2] Blanche told CBS the effort is meant to "put guardrails in place" and to preserve evidence of possible voter confusion.[2] He also rejected comparisons to Trump's post-2020 behavior and the January 6 lead-up as "crazy." NPR
Alaska state courts, including the Alaska Supreme Court, previously kept Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot after Republican officials sought to disqualify him over alleged intent to mislead voters.[1] On Sunday, President Trump told reporters he personally ordered the lawsuit, called the ballot "illegal because it was unfair," and argued the incumbent should be labeled "Sen. Dan Sullivan" rather than "incumbent." PBS News The Alaska ballot lists "Dan S. Sullivan" as a registered Republican and "incumbent" while "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr." appears without a party, a formatting difference the DOJ highlights as central to its concern about voter confusion.[2]
Blanche told CBS the department is "doing our own research" as it presses the federal case and seeks a judicial ruling before certification if a court finds the outcome was driven by confusion rather than the will of the voters.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Attorney General Todd Blanche defended on CNN the DOJ lawsuit that asks a court to block Alaska from automatically certifying its U.S. Senate election results if the Republican incumbent loses (Attorney General Todd Blanche).
- Blanche said the DOJ is not “laying any groundwork” for legal challenges to the midterms and insisted that President Trump is not trying to take over a state election “in any way, shape, or form.”
- He characterized the suit’s requested remedy as asking Alaska “to not certify if the law is broken,” framing the case as a test of whether Alaska violated federal law and the Constitution because of a potentially confusing ballot with two Dan Sullivans (the suit’s requested remedy).
- Blanche argued it is an obligation of the states to avoid voter confusion and emphasized that the incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan vs. independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan name overlap is central to the DOJ’s claim.
- Alaska state courts, including the Alaska Supreme Court, previously kept Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot after Republican officials sought to disqualify him over alleged intent to mislead voters (Alaska state courts).
- Blanche rejected comparisons to Trump’s post-2020 behavior and the lead-up to the January 6 attack as “crazy,” and told CBS’ Face the Nation the case is intended to “put guardrails in place” and preserve evidence of possible voter confusion.
- President Trump told reporters on Sunday, October 25, 2026, that he personally ordered the lawsuit, called the ballot “illegal because it was unfair,” and argued the incumbent should be labeled “Sen. Dan Sullivan” rather than just “incumbent” because many voters “don’t know what incumbent means” (President Trump).
- Alaska ballots list “Dan S. Sullivan” as a “registered Republican” and “incumbent,” while “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” appears without a party affiliation, a formatting difference the DOJ highlights as part of its concern about voter confusion (Dan S. Sullivan).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Attorney General Todd Blanche told CNN's 'State of the Union' that President Trump is not trying to overturn Alaska's Senate results 'in any way, shape or form' through the DOJ lawsuit.
- Blanche said the suit seeks to block Alaska from certifying the Senate election only if 'a court ultimately determines that it was decided because of confusion and not the will of the voters,' and framed it as consistent with federal and Alaska law.
- Blanche told CBS' 'Face the Nation' the case is intended to 'put guardrails in place' and to preserve evidence of possible voter confusion caused by having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot.
- President Trump told reporters on Sunday, October 25, 2026, that he personally ordered the lawsuit, calling the ballot 'illegal because it was unfair' and arguing the incumbent should be labeled 'Sen. Dan Sullivan' rather than 'incumbent' because 'a lot of people don't know what incumbent means.'
- The article specifies that Alaska ballots list 'Dan S. Sullivan' as a 'registered Republican' and 'incumbent,' while 'Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.' appears without a party affiliation.
- Blanche rejected comparisons to Trump's post-2020 election behavior and the lead-up to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, calling such questions 'crazy' and insisting DOJ is not laying groundwork for broader election challenges.
- On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Attorney General Todd Blanche defended on CNN the DOJ lawsuit seeking to stop Alaska from automatically certifying its U.S. Senate election results if the Republican incumbent loses.
- Blanche said the DOJ is not 'laying any groundwork' for President Trump to challenge the midterm outcomes and insisted 'President Trump is not trying to take over a state election in any way, shape, or form.'
- He characterized the suit’s requested remedy as asking Alaska 'to not certify if the law is broken,' framing the case as a test of whether Alaska violated federal law and the Constitution by allowing a potentially confusing ballot with two Dan Sullivans.
- Blanche reiterated his earlier description of DOJ involvement in a 'doomsday' scenario but dismissed comparisons to post-2020 election events and January 6 as 'crazy' during a tense exchange on CNN’s 'State of the Union.'
- He argued that 'it is an obligation of the states to avoid confusion...in the minds of voters in the election process,' emphasizing that the name overlap between incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan and independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan is central to DOJ’s claim.
- The article restates that Alaska state courts, including the Alaska Supreme Court, previously kept Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot after Republican officials sought to disqualify him over alleged intent to mislead voters.