The Justice Department has moved in federal court to preemptively block a narrow loss by Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan if he comes up short in his reelection bid next month.
The lawsuit filed Thursday in an Alaska federal court argues that the presence of a third contender in the race, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., should justify a delay in certifying the race if the incumbent should lose to Democrat and former Rep. Mary Peltola. The suit claims the second Sullivan’s candidacy is “frivolous” and the state’s election certification should be paused if the incumbent loses by less than the number of votes for Dan J. Sullivan Jr.
