US judge rejects Trump lawsuit to delay Alaska Senate certification

A federal judge has dismissed a high-profile lawsuit brought by the Trump administration that sought to delay the certification of Alaska's pivotal U.S. Senate race if the Republican incumbent loses.

The legal challenge, launched by the US Department of Justice, arose after disclosures that aides working with Democratic challenger Mary Peltola had reportedly recruited a retired teacher named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. To run as a third‑party candidate without party affiliation. Incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan and President Donald Trump argued that the second candidate was intended to confuse voters and peel away conservative support in a contest crucial for determining control of Congress. According to reporting by TRT World, President Trump directed the federal agency to intervene.

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In her 20‑page ruling issued on Sunday, 1 November 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason found that the federal government lacked standing and failed to present a workable plan that could investigate ballots without compromising voter privacy. As reported by The Guardian, Gleason emphasized that segregating and investigating votes cast for the second candidate would directly violate Alaskans' constitutional right to a secret ballot.

Furthermore, the timing of the lawsuit—filed on 22 October 2026, amended on 29 October 2026, and adjudicated just two days before polling day on Tuesday, 3 November 2026—ran afoul of the judicial doctrine that federal courts should not alter election rules on the eve of a vote. According to figures from Alaska's Division of Elections cited by NPR, over 86,700 voters had already cast ballots during early voting.

Reactions to the ruling divided sharply along political and institutional lines. The Justice Department maintained that its case was dismissed on procedural grounds rather than the merits of its core argument. A department spokesperson stated that Alaskan voters deserve a fair election, confirming plans to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, voting rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union praised the decision, with representatives describing the initial federal lawsuit as an unlawful attempt to silence voters.

State officials also pushed back against federal interference. Attorneys representing the Alaska Department of Law defended state sovereignty in court filings, while Alaska’s Division of Elections director Carol Beecher noted that ballots do not bear voter names and are commingled specifically to protect privacy. Governor Mike Dunleavy separately ordered a state‑level investigation into the campaign recruitment controversy, suggesting potential review of certification depending on findings.

Despite alleging that his opponent engaged in a "rigged and corrupt" scheme, incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan stated in a CNN interview covered by Al Jazeera that he would accept the final election results regardless of the outcome. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola has consistently denied any personal involvement or knowledge regarding the recruitment of the second candidate, characterizing the controversy as a distraction from key economic issues facing working families.

Parallel to the civil litigation, federal authorities have escalated investigative measures. As reported by PBS, the Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas and the FBI contacted campaign donors regarding candidate petition efforts. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed an ongoing criminal probe into the matter.

What to Watch Next

• Polling and general election voting take place on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, utilizing Alaska's ranked-choice voting system.
• The Justice Department's notice of appeal will proceed through federal appellate courts, though it offers no immediate barrier to post‑election tabulation.
• State officials and investigators will continue separate inquiries into candidate recruitment allegations, which could influence final certification debates.

For related developments, see World coverage and past reports including the Justice Department's lost bid in California and the initial filing of the Alaska Senate race lawsuit.