Trump admin sues to block certification of Alaska Senate vote if GOP candidate loses

On Thursday, the Trump administration filed suit to block the certification of the vote in the Alaska Senate race in the event that incumbent Republican Senator Daniel S. Sullivan loses. The Department of Justice argues that this is necessary because there is another candidate on the ballot named Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.

Sullivan, Jr., is listed on the ballot as unaffiliated or independent. However, the DOJ contends that the potential confusion is sufficient cause for the court to block certification of the vote “if: (1) Senator Sullivan does not win the election; and (2) had all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan been cast instead for Senator Sullivan and Alaska’s rank-choice process played out accordingly, Senator Sullivan would have won the election”.

Sullivan, Jr., is expected to garner at most 5% of votes in the race. The chief contest is between Sen. Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.

Dems “ready for whatever,” Schumer says

Earlier on the same day the lawsuit was filed, Attorney General Todd Blanche was asked by a reporter whether there was any scenario in which the Department of Justice might intervene to halt or delay certification of midterm election results. Blanche insisted it was not the DOJ’s intention to interfere, but he would not rule out the possibility of DOJ intervention in a “doomsday” scenario. Blanche did not elaborate on what he thought would constitute a doomsday scenario.

Polls indicate that due to dissatisfaction with the economy and negative views of President Trump himself, even some previously “safe” Republican House and Senate seats are up for grabs. Given the events following the Presidential election Trump lost in 2020, this has raised fears that the administration might seek to weaponize the federal government to seek to prevent or overturn unfavorable results for the GOP.

Following Blanche’s comments, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer wrote on Twitter: “Senate Democrats have been preparing for this for months and will be ready for whatever they try. As Trump and his cronies attempt to steal this election, we are fighting them at every turn.”

In recent months, the Trump administration has attempted to influence how states run elections in numerous ways, including demanding sensitive voter data and even trying to get the Postal Service to regulate mail ballots. Nearly all of these attempts at policy changes have been blocked by the courts.

Trump once again insists he has the right to run for a third term.