ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Azat TV) – The U.S. Department of Justice moved on Friday, October 30, 2026, to request a court order directing Alaska elections officials to isolate specific ballots in a high-stakes U.S. Senate race. Federal prosecutors confirmed that a criminal investigation is currently underway regarding the recruitment of a namesake candidate who shares a name with the incumbent Republican senator.
The unfolding legal maneuvers arrive just days before Tuesday’s ranked-choice general election, directly impacting a fiercely contested battleground race that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate. Two-term incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan faces a challenge in a race that has drawn intense national attention and an influx of federal investigative resources.
Federal Inquiries and Legal Filings
Speaking to reporters in Anchorage on Friday, Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman disclosed that federal authorities have maintained an ongoing investigation for several months. Recent media reports published by KDHNews indicated that campaign aides to former U.S. Representative Mary Peltola and Democratic Party committees appeared involved in recruiting retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan to run.
As part of a federal lawsuit filed previously, Department of Justice attorneys asked a judge to compel the segregation of all ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Bryan Wilson stated in court filings that the government aims to preserve these ballots to investigate potential voter confusion should an inquiry become necessary. The federal agency also filed a list of proposed questions directed at the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
State Response and Ballot Integrity Debates
Attorneys representing the state of Alaska strongly pushed back against the federal segregation request. In court responses, state lawyers questioned the logistical feasibility of isolating the ballots, noting that voter ballots are commingled in ballot boxes on Election Day and that sorting them would violate state ballot secrecy protections.
Furthermore, state officials argued that Alaska’s established ranked-choice voting system already mitigates confusion by allowing voters to rank both candidates explicitly. State election materials distinguish the incumbent as Dan S. Sullivan, Republican, and the challenger as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., with no party affiliation — the same designations used during the August open primary.
Denials and National Stakes
Democratic candidate Mary Peltola publicly denied any knowledge of a coordinated effort to place a namesake candidate on the ballot. Representatives for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. have also consistently denied involvement in any electoral deception.
The Justice Department’s push in Alaska follows a rejected federal request in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where prosecutors attempted to compel California to set aside disputed midterm ballots over noncitizen voting claims. Federal attorneys argued in the Alaska proceedings that a substantial risk remains that the identical naming structure could mislead voters and compromise election integrity, requesting a judicial ruling by Monday.