Why is “Alaska Senate Race” trending?
Justice Department sues over Alaska Senate certification if Sullivan loses
The Trump administration has asked a court to hold up certification of Alaska's U.S. Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is defeated, according to CNN. The filing, made before the November vote, targets a second candidate also named Daniel J. Sullivan, whom the lawsuit says could confuse voters. CNN reports that state election officials listed him without a party label, while Sen. Sullivan appears on the ballot as a registered Republican and incumbent. In the primary, Sen. Sullivan received 68,726 votes and the second Sullivan received 4,107, according to CNN.
The case matters for control of the Senate because Democrats need a net gain of four seats, and Alaska is among the Republican-held states they are targeting. Sen. Sullivan is running against Democrat Mary Peltola in a race that has drawn little reliable polling. CNN reports that the lawsuit relies on a federal voter registration law's stated goal of protecting the integrity of elections, and that a Notre Dame law professor, Derek Muller, called the legal theory unusual. Headlines from Politico, Axios, CBS News, The Washington Post and WPTZ describe the same lawsuit, with some saying the suit would act if the incumbent narrowly loses. President Trump posted on Truth Social that the second candidate amounted to cheating.
Key facts
- The Justice Department sued to block certification of Alaska's Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.
- A second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan is on the ballot; state officials listed him without a party affiliation.
- In the primary, Dan Sullivan received 68,726 votes and Daniel J. Sullivan received 4,107, per CNN.
- Democrats need a net gain of four seats in November, and Alaska is one of their targets.
- Legal experts quoted by CNN say the lawsuit's theory is unusual and unclear in how a court could act.
What we don't know yet
It is unclear how a court would act on the Justice Department's request, and the outcome of the lawsuit is not yet known.
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Trend data
Alaska Senate Race started trending in the US on Oct 23, 11:40 AM EDT, reaching about 2K+ Google searches. 11 news outlets covered it in our feed, including NBC News, The Hill, AP News. The earliest report we found came from NBC News at Oct 22, 5:16 AM EDT.
What the headlines say
- CBS NewsTrump admin. sues to block Alaska Senate certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses
- CNNTrump DOJ sues to block Alaska US Senate results if Republican incumbent loses
- PoliticoDOJ sues to block election certification in Alaska if Republicans lose Senate race
- AxiosDOJ sues to block Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses
- The New York TimesJustice Dept. Moves to Block Certification of Alaska Senate Race Results if Republican Loses
- The Washington PostDOJ seeks to block Alaska Senate result if Republican incumbent narrowly loses
- WPTZTrump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
- AP NewsTrump administration sues to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
- NewsweekTrump Admin Seeks to Block Alaska Senate Result if Dan Sullivan Loses
- AP NewsPollster predicts close Alaska Senate race with polarized electorate, disaffected Trump voters
- The HillTrump ‘concerned’ about Alaska Senate race: ‘Totally confusing’
- NBC NewsAnger over rising prices could be decisive in Alaska’s unusually close Senate race
How the story unfolded
- — NBC News: Anger over rising prices could be decisive in Alaska’s unusually close Senate race
- — The Hill: Trump ‘concerned’ about Alaska Senate race: ‘Totally confusing’
- — AP News: Pollster predicts close Alaska Senate race with polarized electorate, disaffected Trump voters
- — Newsweek: Trump Admin Seeks to Block Alaska Senate Result if Dan Sullivan Loses
- — AP News: Trump administration sues to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
- — WPTZ: Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
- — The Washington Post: DOJ seeks to block Alaska Senate result if Republican incumbent narrowly loses
- — CNN: Trump DOJ sues to block Alaska US Senate results if Republican incumbent loses
- — Politico: DOJ sues to block election certification in Alaska if Republicans lose Senate race
- — Axios: DOJ sues to block Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses
- — The New York Times: Justice Dept. Moves to Block Certification of Alaska Senate Race Results if Republican Loses
- — CBS News: Trump admin. sues to block Alaska Senate certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses