US Judge Dismisses Trump Election Lawsuit in Alaska

On Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage dismissed in a 20-page order a DOJ lawsuit over Alaska's Nov. 3 Senate race. The suit sought to segregate ballots for teacher Daniel J. Sullivan, a fourth candidate after an August primary beside Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola, and to block certification if the senator loses. Gleason found no Article III standing for want of redressability and wrote that ordering segregation for investigation "clearly violate Alaskans' right to a secret ballot." DOJ filed a notice of appeal Sunday. Alaska's Republican-led government had filed Saturday against delayed certification. CONTESTED DOJ said the court dismissed on procedure but did not dispute that Daniel J. Sullivan (a/k/a Decoy Dan) entered to confuse voters, and plans to appeal. Peltola's campaign called the suit a sham from a weaponized Justice Department. Trump posted that the "Fake Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr., has DISAPPEARED" and committed a "Criminal Act." Sen. Sullivan told CNN he would lose votes to "that trickery," that Peltola "got caught lying," and that he would accept the results; Peltola said, "I am not interested in tricking voters." A New York Times report cited fired former Peltola manager Elisa Rios on recruitment; she sought to retract. DOJ has a separate criminal probe with subpoenas; no one is charged.