Trump Administration Challenges Midterm Ballots in Alaska and California

The Trump administration has launched a series of legal and criminal challenges targeting the midterm elections in Alaska and California. In Alaska, the Department of Justice sought to block the certification of the U.S. Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, alleging that Democratic nominee Mary Peltola recruited a retired teacher, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., as a decoy to confuse voters. Chief Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the government lacked legal standing and provided no plan to investigate voter intent without violating the principle of the secret ballot.

Despite the dismissal, the Justice Department has escalated a criminal probe in Alaska, issuing grand jury subpoenas and interviewing donors. Governor Mike Dunleavy also ordered a state criminal investigation into the Peltola campaign following reports that Democratic operatives recruited the second Sullivan. Senator Dan Sullivan accused Peltola of lying about the scheme, while Peltola denied any involvement.

In California, a federal appeals court rejected a Justice Department attempt to set aside postal ballots from over 20,000 registered voters alleged to be non-citizens. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter indicated the administration may appeal to the Supreme Court. Governor Gavin Newsom warned that federal agents might attempt to seize ballots via search warrants to interfere with the counting process. Additionally, the administration has sued approximately 30 states and the District of Columbia to obtain unredacted voter rolls as over 51 million Americans cast early ballots.