The Department of Justice filed an extraordinary lawsuit seeking to block the state of Alaska from certifying the winner of its upcoming U.S. Senate election in the event that incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, cites what it suggests is likely voter confusion from having another Republican candidate, named Daniel J. Sullivan, on the ballot in the race.

"Should Alaska certify any electoral results tainted by the inclusion on the ballot of Daniel J. Sullivan — whose candidacy, Defendant Beecher [Alaska Elections Director Carol Beecher] found, is 'for the purpose of confusing or misleading voters and compromising the fairness of the ballot' —the State and its officers will fail in its obligation to protect the integrity of its election," the suit says.

"The United States accordingly brings this lawsuit to protect the integrity of the 2026 Senate election in Alaska," the suit says.

Both Sullivans are running against Democratic nominee Mary Peltola.

The Alaska race is one of several Senate contests around the United States that could determine whether Republicans retain their slim majority in the upper chamber of Congress.

The DOJ's lawsuit says that "the sole purpose" of the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan "is to benefit the Peltola campaign by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan."

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