Alaska Election Probe: DOJ Subpoenas Target Officials in Dan Sullivan Ballot Case

The Justice Department has launched a new phase of its criminal investigation into the 2026 Alaska Senate race. Officials confirmed that the agency issued subpoenas to several Democratic officials believed to have facilitated the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher sharing his name with Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. No charges have been filed against any individual involved in the race.

The investigation intensifies after a New York Times report detailed internal emails and text messages related to the recruitment effort. A Justice Department official stated that these communications could expand the government's ability to pursue the case. The official noted that such digital records are often difficult to obtain without search warrants or voluntary cooperation from those who hold them.

During a briefing on Thursday, the official described a sharp increase in investigative activity over the previous 24 hours. The department is considering preservation requests to technology companies and search warrants for electronic communications. Grand jury subpoenas for documents and testimony are also in the mix. The official identified 18 U.S.C. Sections 241 and 242 as potential legal grounds for prosecution. Section 241 addresses conspiracies to interfere with voting rights, while section 242 covers the willful deprivation of rights under color of law.

The Justice Department referenced the 2016 case of Douglass Mackey, who was convicted of conspiracy for misleading voters online. That conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court in 2025. However, the current official acknowledged that no confirmed instances have been verified where an Alaska voter mistakenly selected the wrong Dan Sullivan. When asked if voters had reported confusion or attempted to correct ballots, the official said, "I think I've not heard of that, but it's hard to tell exactly."

The criminal probe runs parallel to a civil lawsuit filed by the Trump administration last week. That suit seeks to block the certification of election results if Sen. Sullivan loses due to voter confusion. The lawsuit was amended on Thursday to include details from the New York Times report. It now argues that the court must intervene under the Constitution's Supremacy Clause to enforce federal law and prevent a "conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the electoral process."

The amended complaint states that while the Times report is not always true, its findings align with the government's allegations and common sense. Alaska officials have previously asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit, arguing that election administration is a state responsibility. A Justice Department official described the civil action primarily as a preservation measure. The official explained that once ballots are counted and separated from their envelopes, it becomes harder to establish whether individual voters were confused.

Democratic officials have denied any connection to the effort to put Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot. Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee both issued denials. Daniel S. Sullivan has stated in the past that he is genuinely interested in running. The Justice Department is seeking discovery regarding what Peltola's campaign knew about the recruitment operation and when those facts became known to campaign officials.

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered Alaska's Department of Public Safety to examine whether the alleged recruitment effort violated state law. The governor's office is assessing whether criminal or civil action is merited under state statutes. President Trump has called for both Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan to be removed from the ballot. When asked about the Justice Department's lawsuit last week, Trump said, "Well, I'm the one that said, 'Do it.'"