The Trump administration is seeking to block Alaska from certifying a U.S. Senate election result if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is defeated by another candidate with the same name.
The legal action centers on concerns that voters could confuse the incumbent with a similarly named candidate on the ballot.
The administration argues that the potential confusion could affect the reliability of the election outcome and is asking the courts to intervene before certification.
Sullivan, a Republican, is seeking to retain his Senate seat, while the other Dan Sullivan’s candidacy has drawn heightened attention because of the identical name.
Alaska election officials have not indicated that certification will be halted, and the dispute could ultimately depend on how courts interpret state election law and the rights of candidates to appear on the ballot.
The case adds a new legal battle to an already closely watched Senate contest, with the final outcome potentially delayed until the courts issue a ruling.