DOJ sues to delay Alaska Senate certification over 2nd Dan Sullivan
What's next: A judge could halt certification only if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses by less than the votes won by the other Sullivan.
The Justice Department filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Alaska from certifying its U.S. Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses under circumstances officials argue were distorted by another candidate with the same name. The suit asks a judge to stop certification if Democrat Mary Peltola wins by a margin smaller than the votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg. Trump said he directed the filing. Alaska's Supreme Court had already rejected an earlier bid to strike Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot. Under the state's ranked-choice system, voters can rank both Sullivans, and the incumbent appears on the ballot as the Republican senator.