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By Steve Mollman
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President Donald Trump said Sunday that “a lot of people don’t know what incumbent means” as he continued to argue that Alaska’s Senate ballot is confusing voters because it includes two candidates with similar names.
Speaking to reporters before traveling to Michigan for a rally, Trump complained that Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, whom he has endorsed, appears on the ballot alongside Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher.
“They made it very unclear, and I think it’s very unfair,” Trump said. “And then you have rank choice voting, which is crooked as can be.”
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Trump said the incumbent senator should be identified more explicitly on the ballot.
“At least let them use the name Senator Dan Sullivan, as opposed to incumbent, because a lot of people don’t know what incumbent means,” Trump said.
His comments mark the latest intervention by the president in a dispute that has prompted a Justice Department lawsuit, with Election Day just over a week away.
Newsweek reached out to the Alaska Division of Elections for comment on Sunday.
Why Trump Is Focused on Two Dan Sullivans in Alaska
The Alaska Senate ballot lists the Republican incumbent as Dan S. Sullivan and identifies him as the “Incumbent.” Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is also on the ballot.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is listed under his full name and without a party designation beneath his name.
Trump has repeatedly alleged that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy is intended to confuse voters and hurt Senator Sullivan, who is running against Democrat Mary Peltola and other candidates.
On Sunday, Trump again characterized the situation as deliberate.
“The Democrats have put another guy named Dan Sullivan, in this case, Daniel Sullivan, on the ballot,” he said. “And that’s very unfair. That’s just outright cheating.”
Trump did not provide evidence in his remarks Sunday that Democrats were responsible for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has rejected suggestions that his candidacy is illegitimate. After courts restored him to the ballot, he said he was running because he was dissatisfied with the incumbent’s representation.
“It’s a free country,” he said at the time, according to Courthouse News Service. “Most Alaskans are proud Independents and it’s my sincere hope that people know who and what they are voting for but ultimately, choice is good and voters’ intent will be as varied as the candidates who are running.”
Alaska election officials initially removed Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the ballot after concluding that his candidacy was not filed in “good faith” and was instead intended to “confuse or mislead” voters. He challenged the decision, and the courts restored him to the ballot.
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DOJ Lawsuit Over Alaska Senate Election
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Thursday against Alaska and state election officials over the Senate contest, arguing that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy is intended to mislead voters into supporting him instead of Senator Sullivan.
The department is seeking to block certification if Senator Sullivan loses by fewer votes than Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. receives, pending an investigation into potential voter confusion.
Trump took credit Friday for the decision to bring the case.
“I’m the one that said ‘do it,’” he told reporters Friday.
Attorney General Todd Blanche, however, said Saturday that Justice Department attorneys wrote the lawsuit and that the department “did not coordinate with any campaign or candidate.”
Blanche defended the case again Sunday on CBS News’ Face the Nation but declined to say whether Trump personally directed him to pursue it.
“I will never, ever, ever talk about communications that I have with the president of the United States,” Blanche said.
Asked whom Trump meant when he said he was “the one that said do it,” Blanche replied: “I have no idea who he was referring to and even if I did have an idea, I would most certainly not talk about it.”
Lisa Murkowski Pushes Back on Trump and DOJ
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has opposed the Justice Department lawsuit, arguing that the ballot already allows voters to distinguish between the candidates.
“Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot,” Murkowski said. “The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit.”
Trump responded Saturday night by attacking Murkowski, calling her “the Republicans’ Worst Senator, by far” and a “DISGRACE to Alaska and our Country.”
On Sunday, Trump also renewed his criticism of Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.
“We shouldn’t have rank choice,” he told reporters. “But on his own, Dan Sullivan would win easily.”
Alaska voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated and those ballots are redistributed based on voters’ subsequent choices. The process continues until a candidate has a majority.
Alaska Lawsuit Faces Legal Challenge
The Justice Department’s lawsuit is itself being challenged in federal court.
Two Alaska voters, along with the League of Women Voters of Alaska and Common Cause, have asked for the case to be dismissed, arguing that the federal government lacks the authority asserted by the Justice Department.
Their motion cited Trump’s “I’m the one that said ‘do it’” remark in arguing that the case was “filed at the behest” of the president. It also asked the court to consider imposing sanctions on Justice Department attorneys who signed the complaint.
Election-law experts have questioned the legal foundation of the DOJ case.
“The DOJ’s lawsuit is completely meritless,” Michael Morley, the Sheila M. McDevitt Professor of Law and faculty director of the Election Law Center at Florida State University, previously told Newsweek.
California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff also criticized the lawsuit Sunday on NBC News’ Meet the Press.
“No, they don’t have a point. And what’s more, they don’t have standing to bring this kind of a suit,” Schiff said when asked about the government’s contention that the two Sullivans could confuse voters. “It’s not the federal government’s business to run Alaskan elections. It’s Alaska’s business to do that.”
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Why the Alaska Senate Race Matters
The controversy is unfolding ahead of the November 3 midterm elections in a Senate contest that could help determine control of the chamber.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. Peltola is seeking to become the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Alaska since Mark Begich won in 2008.
Four candidates are competing in the race: Peltola, Senator Dan S. Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and Gerald Heikes.
Newsweek reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
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