Blanche defends Trump-ordered Alaska Senate suit: "We are not trying to take over a state election"

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department's lawsuit over Alaska's Senate race on Sunday, saying on CNN's "State of the Union" that the government is not trying to take over a state election. CNBC and Fortune both reported his remarks. The suit, which we covered Friday, asks a court to block certification of the result in one scenario: Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, and the votes cast for a second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, could have changed the outcome.

What Blanche said

Per CNBC, Blanche said the aim is to make sure Alaska's courts and election process can determine afterward whether voter confusion produced "an unjust, improper result," and that any such finding is for a court to make later. Asked by CNN's Dana Bash whether the president is laying groundwork to overturn results, he answered, "That is crazy," and said, "We're not laying any groundwork for the president to do that."

On CBS's "Face the Nation," Fortune reports, he described the suit as a way to "put guardrails in place" and said: "It's not saying, 'Don't certify.'" He said states should not certify only if a court ultimately finds the result was decided by confusion rather than the will of the voters.

The other side

Democratic groups and voting-rights advocates, including the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola, are seeking to join the case. CNBC quotes their filing calling it "an unprecedented pre-emptive strike on democratic elections," and arguing that the federal government has no power to impose the choice on the state. Peltola called the suit "flagrant corruption" on Friday, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, also criticized it, according to Fortune.

Republicans have argued for months that Daniel J. Sullivan is a plant meant to confuse voters. Democrats say they have no connection to him, and CNBC reports he denies running to confuse voters. Alaska's elections division briefly removed him in June before a state court ordered his name back on the ballot; the state Supreme Court upheld that ruling.

What Trump added

Fortune reports Trump said on Friday that he was "the one that said do it," and told reporters Sunday that the ballot was unfair because voters may not know what "incumbent" means. Alaska ballots will list "Dan S. Sullivan" as a registered Republican and incumbent, and "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr." with no party.

Why it matters beyond Alaska

• The stakes: CNBC calls Alaska one of the best chances for a Democratic flip on Nov. 3, in an election that decides control of Congress for the rest of Trump's term.
• The timing: Early voting is already underway. No court ruling on the request had been reported in the Sunday coverage we read.
• For voters: Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, and ranking is optional. Check the labels on your ballot and your rankings before you submit it.
• For businesses: Congressional control shapes tax, tariff, energy and spending bills. A certification dispute could delay a final answer on who holds the Senate. Our markets coverage tracks how traders price that.

Sources: CNBC, Fortune. Quotes are as reported by those outlets. This is news reporting, not legal or investment advice.