Politics · October 31, 2026
Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'
Alaska's Republican-led state government has requested that a federal judge dismiss a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit aimed at blocking the certification of the state's U.S. Senate election. The lawsuit, filed at President Donald Trump's direction, argues that the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot may have confused voters and unfairly impacted the race between incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. State attorneys argued in a Saturday filing that the DOJ's request to isolate specific ballots is 'not even possible' without violating voter privacy laws. While the DOJ alleges the second candidate was a 'spoiler' recruited by Peltola's allies, the state maintains the lawsuit is 'meritless' and lacks legal standing.
Read the original coverage
- Associated PressAllSides: Lean LeftMBFC: Left-Center
Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'
Read at Associated Press ↗ - NBC NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Alaska officials ask judge to deny Trump administration’s ‘impossible’ demand to set aside Senate ballots
Read at NBC News ↗ - ABC NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'
Read at ABC News ↗ - New York PostAllSides: Right (News)MBFC: Right-Center
Trump ask to set aside ‘Decoy Dan’ Alaska Senate ballots ‘not even possible’: attorneys
Read at New York Post ↗ - Washington ExaminerMBFC: Right-Center
Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'
Read at Washington Examiner ↗ - NewsNationMBFC: Right-Center
Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'
Read at NewsNation ↗ - BreitbartMBFC: Right
Levin: Alaska 'Decoy Dan' an Effort 'to Steal the United States Senate from the American People'
Read at Breitbart ↗ - PBS NewsMBFC: Left-Center
Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible'
Read at PBS News ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Alaska's Republican-run state government urged a federal judge to dismiss the DOJ's lawsuit.
- The lawsuit was filed at President Donald Trump's direction.
- The DOJ seeks to stop the certification of a possible win by Democrat Mary Peltola.
- The lawsuit centers on the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
- U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason set a Saturday deadline for arguments on whether to dismiss the case.
- State attorneys argued that separating specific ballots would violate voter privacy or secrecy.
Reported by only some outlets
- The DOJ specifically requested on Friday that the judge separate all ballots showing votes for the second Dan Sullivan.
- The Trump administration claims Mary Peltola’s campaign was involved in recruiting the second candidate, a retired teacher.
- Mary Peltola has denied the allegations regarding the recruitment of the second candidate.
- The lawsuit against local election officials was originally filed on Oct. 22.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize that the lawsuit is 'meritless' and has been 'roundly criticized' by election law experts, while highlighting that the Republican-run state government itself is opposing the President's move.
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
feature allegations of a 'conspiracy' to 'steal the Senate' and highlight claims that the Democratic candidate was aware of a 'spoiler' recruitment operation.
Centrist outlets tend to focus on…
focus on the legal arguments regarding ballot secrecy and the state's request for dismissal, noting the 'scathing' nature of the state's filing against the DOJ.
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
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