Trump says he ordered DOJ lawsuit over Alaska Senate race

President Donald Trump said Friday that he personally directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its 2026 Senate election, as the department seeks to prevent the state from certifying a Mary Peltola victory if Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Alaska, concerns the race between Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Democratic challenger Peltola, as well as a second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan. The department asks the court to block certification of a Peltola win under that condition. The case does not determine the election result, and the court has not ruled on the request. Asked about the lawsuit by reporters in Florida, Trump said, “I’m the one that said do it.” He also accused Daniel J. Sullivan of being a Democratic plant, an allegation Republicans have made but that has not been established. The department’s complaint argues that the similar names could confuse voters and that ballots intended for the incumbent could instead go to the other candidate. The complaint further argues that, under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan might otherwise have gone to the incumbent and...