The department alleges that a same-name independent candidate could confuse voters and asks a federal judge to delay certification for an investigation into voter intent.
The US Justice Department has asked a federal judge to delay certification—the formal confirmation of election results—in Alaska’s Senate race. Its lawsuit, filed on October 22, alleges that independent candidate Daniel J Sullivan is deliberately misleading voters who intend to support incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The filing requests a delay; it is not an order blocking certification.
The challenge follows Alaska’s Supreme Court decision in June rejecting an earlier Republican effort to remove Daniel J Sullivan from the ballot. The independent candidate will appear without a party designation, while Senator Sullivan will be identified as the Republican candidate.
Senator Sullivan faces former Democratic US representative Mary Peltola. Al Jazeera reports that the Alaska contest could determine which party controls the US Senate after the November 3 election.
The Justice Department wants time to investigate whether votes cast for Daniel J Sullivan were intended for Senator Sullivan. The filing argues that confusion between the candidates could distort voters’ wishes and lead to certification of an election that lacked integrity. Those are the department’s allegations, not a court finding.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, which lets voters rank more than one candidate. Voters who are unsure can select both Sullivans, Al Jazeera notes.
President Donald Trump took credit for initiating the lawsuit on October 23, telling reporters that he had directed the department to act.
Democrats and voting-rights groups expressed concern that the administration could interfere in the midterm elections. Lauren Miller Karalunas, senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, argued that certification is handled by states and that the federal government has “no role” in it.
The first National Security Strategy in two decades commits to deeper European cooperation as Canada and the European Union discuss closer ties.
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US Attorney General Todd Blanche said on October 21 that the department did not intend to interfere improperly with elections or state certification. He said it would not seek to block certification unless extreme circumstances warranted such action.
The election is scheduled for November 3. The Justice Department’s request to delay certification awaits a federal judge’s decision.
Ukraine’s ombudsman plans food and medical aid for about 2,000 people in the Russian-occupied city on October 30, with mine clearance still under way.
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The change applies across pension schemes from 28 October 2026. Where the member died before 75 and had enough remaining allowance, delays beyond two years no longer make lump sums taxable.
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