Midterm Week: Alaska Ballot Scandal, DOJ Subpoenas, and Trump's Florida Rally

Key points

• Alaska Senate race faces federal subpoenas and a lawsuit to block certification due to a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
• President Trump canceled weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa, citing strong Republican positions, to focus on a rally in Florida.
• The Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to California election officials over allegations of non-citizen voter registration.
• Nearly 45 million Americans have cast early votes, including 23.6 million in-person and 21.3 million mail ballots.
• Vice President JD Vance canceled a scheduled press conference in Minnesota regarding election fraud.

Background

The Alaska controversy began when the New York Times reported that Democratic operatives linked to Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited Daniel J. Sullivan to confuse voters. Previous coverage noted that while Peltola and national Democrats denied involvement, the Justice Department issued 40 subpoenas and amended a civil lawsuit, alleging violations of federal civil rights statutes. Legal experts previously argued that Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system might mitigate the impact of the ballot confusion, but the federal intervention has escalated the dispute into a potential certification crisis.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News emphasizes the procedural details of the Alaska investigation, noting that the Justice Department issued new subpoenas and that the Trump administration is suing to block certification if Senator Dan Sullivan loses due to 'voter confusion.' The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican group, frames the issue as a deliberate Democratic scheme to 'stack the ballot' and 'trick voters,' citing internal texts and documents. In contrast, Peltola’s campaign and Democratic allies deny any involvement, with Peltola stating she 'knew nothing' about the other candidate. CBS also highlights the practical impact on voters in Pennsylvania, where mail ballots are not processed until Election Day, while Yahoo notes the broader race to the finish line with Trump canceling red-state rallies to focus on Florida.

Why it matters

The Alaska dispute could determine Senate control if the margin is narrow, as the federal lawsuit seeks to block certification. The Justice Department’s expansion of voting probes to California, including subpoenas over non-citizen registration allegations, signals a broader federal effort to scrutinize election integrity. These legal and political battles may influence voter confidence and turnout in the final days before the November 3 election, particularly in swing states where early voting is already high.

What to watch

The Justice Department’s grand jury subpoenas in California and Alaska may lead to further legal challenges or arrests. President Trump’s focus on Florida and telerallies in 19 states suggests a strategy to mobilize voters in key states. The Alaska race will likely face a court decision on whether the election can be certified, potentially delaying the seating of the new senator. Campaigns in Michigan and Ohio will continue to address recent scandals, including the Ramaswamy ad and El-Sayed’s joint appearance with Haley Stevens.