Trump Says He Directed DOJ Lawsuit Over Alaska Senate Election

President Donald Trump said Friday, October 23, that he directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its U.S. Senate election, seeking a conditional pause in certification if Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan loses and votes cast for another candidate named Sullivan could have changed the result. The lawsuit, filed October 22 in federal court in Alaska, does not ask a judge to declare a winner before Election Day. The Justice Department’s complaint asks the court to halt certification only if Dan S. Sullivan loses and reallocating votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan to the incumbent would make him the winner under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. It also seeks an inquiry into whether those voters intended to support the senator. The complaint alleges Daniel J. Sullivan entered the race to confuse voters and benefit Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. That allegation has not been established by a court. Trump said Democrats put up the second Sullivan, while Daniel J. Sullivan has denied being recruited and said his candidacy was his own choice. Alaska’s ranked-choice system lets voters rank candidates by preference, with votes transferring as candidates are...