Oregon Sen. Merkley warns of “major danger for our Republic” as he accuses President Trump of seeking to block states from certifying election results after DOJ targets Alaska Senate race

Oregon – Sen. Jeff Merkley is warning that President Donald Trump could seek to prevent states from certifying election results after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race under certain circumstances. The Oregon Democrat raised the alarm in a post on X, calling the legal action “a major danger for our Republic” and accusing Trump of preparing to pressure secretaries of state over election results.

“And it begins… A major danger for our Republic: Trump will try to get Secretaries of State not to certify election results. We will fight like hell against his election rigging,” Merkley wrote.

The post followed a Justice Department lawsuit filed in federal court in Alaska that seeks to prevent the state from certifying its Senate election results if Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan narrowly loses to Democrat Mary Peltola and the margin is smaller than the votes received by another candidate with a nearly identical name. The case has drawn attention because it was filed before Election Day, raising questions about whether the federal government is attempting to influence how a state handles the outcome of a closely watched race. Sen. Jeff Merkley warns Trump could challenge election results after DOJ seeks to block Alaska Senate race certification if Republican incumbent loses.

The lawsuit centers on Alaska’s November 3 Senate election, where Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is facing Democrat Mary Peltola. The Justice Department argues that the presence of another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan Jr. could create voter confusion and potentially affect the outcome if the incumbent loses by a margin smaller than the votes received by the other candidate.

President Trump confirmed Friday that he personally directed the Justice Department to pursue the lawsuit, telling reporters, “I’m the one that said do it.” The admission has intensified scrutiny of the administration’s role in election administration ahead of the midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. According to Reuters, the lawsuit asks a federal judge to prevent Alaska from certifying an election outcome that could have been affected by confusion between the two candidates. The department is seeking an investigation into whether votes cast for Dan J. Sullivan were actually intended for the Republican incumbent.

The two candidates are listed differently on the ballot. The incumbent is identified as the Republican candidate, while Dan J. Sullivan appears without a party designation. The challenger, a retired teacher and former U.S. Forest Service worker, has denied that he entered the race to mislead voters or divert support from the senator.

The legal action comes after Alaska courts previously rejected efforts to remove the second Sullivan from the ballot. The Alaska Supreme Court allowed him to remain on the ballot in June, meaning the dispute is now unfolding shortly before voters head to the polls.

Democrats have criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to interfere with a potentially close election. Peltola, who previously represented Alaska in the U.S. House, described the legal action as “flagrant corruption” in comments reported by the Associated Press. She also argued that the lawsuit distracts from issues Alaskans want candidates to address, including affordability.

The challenge has also drawn criticism from Alaska’s other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, who said the Justice Department should never have filed the lawsuit. Murkowski argued that state officials had already addressed the issue by clearly distinguishing the candidates on the ballot. Her response highlights that concern over the federal intervention is not limited to Democrats.

Election law experts have questioned whether the federal government has the legal authority to stop a state from certifying its Senate election results under the circumstances outlined in the complaint. Reuters reported that legal experts characterized the lawsuit’s arguments as weak and questioned whether federal law authorizes the requested intervention.

The Constitution gives states primary responsibility for administering elections, although federal elections must also comply with requirements established by Congress. The lawsuit seeks to intervene in the certification stage, which occurs after ballots are counted and the state formally confirms the winner.

The case is unfolding amid broader concerns about how the Trump administration may respond to election results that do not favor Republicans. The Justice Department has also pursued other election-related legal actions against states, including a separate dispute involving voter records in California, according to the Associated Press. Alaska’s Senate contest could have national consequences because Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. A close race could therefore affect the balance of power in Washington, making the handling of the results particularly consequential.

Merkley’s post reflects concerns among Democrats that the Alaska lawsuit could signal a wider effort to challenge election certification in states where Republican candidates lose. However, the lawsuit itself is focused on the specific circumstances of Alaska’s Senate ballot, and the legal claims have yet to be resolved by the court.

The November 3 election will determine whether Sullivan retains his seat or Peltola wins the Senate race. Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system could also mean that the final outcome takes weeks to establish, adding another layer of uncertainty to the dispute.