Attorney General Todd Blanche confronted CNN host Dana Bash during a segment of ‘State of the Union’ regarding how the network presented information about the Constitution’s Elections Clause. The discussion revolved around the Justice Department’s lawsuit over the Alaska Senate race, focusing particularly on candidates with similar names.
Bash referenced the Alaska Supreme Court’s decision to allow Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a candidate with a name similar to the incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, to stay on the ballot. Blanche insisted CNN show the full clause, which allows Congress to regulate congressional elections. He emphasized how the provision supports federal intervention, backed by existing statutes.
“Conveniently, you put up the Constitution on your screen, but you highlighted only the first clause. Why don’t you show the next clause to your viewers, which says that Congress is allowed to pass laws to make sure that that happens? Put that back up there,” Blanche argued.
The attorney general referenced Article I, Section 4, which permits state legislatures to establish election procedures, while Congress has the authority to modify them. Blanche argued that the second portion of the clause, along with the National Voter Registration Act, justified their lawsuit against Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. for possibly confusing voters.
The DOJ’s complaint aims to delay election certification if votes for Sullivan Jr. could change the election outcome. It accuses him of intentionally misleading voters by sharing a name with the incumbent.
Media Research Center President David Bozell criticized CNN’s handling of the constitutional text, stating Bash failed to provide complete information to viewers. He noted that accurate reporting is essential, especially regarding election integrity.
The lawsuit follows a June ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court, which permitted the challenger on the ballot, while leaving name representation to the state’s Division of Elections.
Daniel J. Sullivan declared his candidacy for the 2026 Senate race and denied accusations of deceiving supporters of Sen. Sullivan. Republicans accused him of siphoning votes, although Sullivan Jr. claimed his run is legitimate.
Former President Donald Trump acknowledged involvement, stating he encouraged the Justice Department to take legal action.
The federal challenge has faced resistance from voting rights groups and Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign. The ACLU argued the National Voter Registration Act does not allow blocking election certification based on candidate listing.