Nicolai Haugsted
Trump administration seeks to challenge election certification amid fears of losing a crucial Republican Senate seat.
The battle for control of the US Senate is approaching its final days, with both parties fighting for every seat that could determine the political balance in Washington.
But in Alaska, the contest has taken on a legal dimension that could complicate the election long after voters have cast their ballots.
According to Reuters, president Donald Trump’s administration has strengthened a lawsuit seeking to prevent the state from certifying its Senate election results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan narrowly loses to Democrat Mary Peltola.
The Justice Department claims Democratic operatives recruited another candidate named Sullivan to confuse voters and undermine the Republican senator’s chances of reelection.
Trump’s administration accuses Democrats of election manipulation
According to an amended lawsuit filed Thursday, federal authorities believe Democratic political operatives helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher running without a party affiliation.
The Justice Department cited reporting by The New York Times alleging that individuals connected to Peltola’s campaign worked with Democratic campaign officials to recruit candidates who could draw votes away from the Republican incumbent.
“They orchestrated his sham campaign for the purpose of misleading Alaskan voters and getting Peltola elected,” Justice Department lawyers wrote.
According to Reuters, federal investigators have issued more than 40 subpoenas and document requests in connection with the investigation.
Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, reportedly told The New York Times that Peltola knew about the recruitment effort.
However, Peltola’s campaign has previously maintained that it had “no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.”
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has also denied participating, while Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has rejected suggestions that he entered the race to confuse voters.
Reuters could not independently verify the newspaper’s allegations.
Trump wants to prevent a Democratic victory from being certified
Trump had already encouraged the Justice Department to challenge Alaska’s election certification process before the latest allegations emerged.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, the president questioned whether Peltola should even be allowed to compete.
“It’s hard to believe that she could even be allowed to run. Frankly, I don’t know how you can allow somebody like that to run. It’s so unfair,” Trump said.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has also called for an investigation.
He told NewsNation that evidence of unlawful conduct “may in fact impact whether someone is seated in the US Senate.”
However, election law professor Jessica Levinson of Loyola Law School questioned whether the reported recruitment tactics would constitute illegal activity.
She explained that political parties generally have considerable freedom to influence election outcomes, provided campaign finance requirements are followed.
“To the extent that people are uncomfortable with two Sullivans, I would offer you’re probably going to be uncomfortable with a really high level of government intrusion into our elections as well,” Levinson told Reuters.
Another election investigation unfolds in California
The Justice Department is also pursuing an investigation into allegations involving noncitizen voting in California.
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office has received grand jury subpoenas requesting information about voter registration safeguards and previous communications with federal authorities.
California officials have previously defended the state’s procedures for preventing ineligible voting.
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.
The Senate majority hangs in the balance
The Alaska controversy comes as Republicans fight to maintain their 53–47 Senate majority.
Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control, making competitive races particularly important.
Trump has intensified his campaign efforts, including a Thursday rally in South Carolina, although he has canceled a planned appearance in Kansas.
“I don’t feel like I have to go to Kansas,” he told reporters.
The White House says the president will instead participate in more than 20 virtual campaign appearances before Tuesday’s election.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris are campaigning for Democratic candidates in closely contested states.
The political atmosphere remains challenging for Trump.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed Monday placed his approval rating at 32%, with concerns over living costs and the war with Iran weighing on public opinion.
More than 44 million Americans had already voted by Thursday evening, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
