Judge Dismisses DOJ Suit Seeking to Halt Alaska Senate Certification
Federal Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed a Justice Department suit to delay Alaska Senate certification, citing legal and practical failings. DOJ plans to appeal.
The story in focus
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska's U.S. Senate election if the Democratic candidate wins. Judge Sharon Gleason found the suit failed on the law and lacked a workable plan to segregate ballots without compromising voter secrecy. The DOJ says it will appeal.
- U.S. Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the Justice Department's Alaska election lawsuit on November 1, 2026.
- The suit sought to delay certification if the Democratic Senate candidate won.
- Gleason ruled the suit failed on the law and on the practicality of segregating ballots while preserving voter secrecy.
- The Justice Department filed the suit last week at President Donald Trump's behest, according to ABC News.
- The Justice Department told ABC News it plans to appeal.
The ruling
A federal judge on Sunday dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit that sought to block certification of Alaska's U.S. Senate election if the Democratic candidate wins, ABC News reported. U.S. Judge Sharon Gleason wrote that the department's request failed on the law and on practicality.
Gleason focused on the department's lack of a workable method for separating ballots cast for Democrat Daniel J. Sullivan, saying the request offered no plan to conduct a court-ordered investigation while preserving voter secrecy. The ruling marked another setback for the administration's efforts to intervene in state-run elections shortly before the midterms.
Background and appeal
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit last week at the behest of President Donald Trump, according to ABC News. Prosecutors asked for a delay in certifying the outcome so they could investigate whether confusion between two candidates named Dan Sullivan could affect the results.
The department told ABC News it plans to appeal the ruling. The decision leaves the certification process for Alaska's Senate race without the court-ordered delay the department had requested.
Why did the judge reject the Justice Department's Alaska election lawsuit?
Judge Sharon Gleason said the suit failed on the law and in practice, because the department offered no workable plan to segregate ballots for Democrat Daniel J. Sullivan while preserving voter secrecy.
Sources & further reading
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