The Trump administration is seeking to block certification of the Alaska election if Republican Dan Sullivan loses the Senate race

The Donald Trump administration has filed a preemptive lawsuit to prevent certification of the result of Alaska’s U.S. Senate election if Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan loses the November 3 race. The Justice Department argues that the presence on the ballot of another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan could confuse voters and undermine the integrity of the election.

The Alaska race could determine control of the Senate. Republican Dan S. Sullivan is facing Democrat Mary Peltola, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take the majority. Daniel J. Sullivan, listed on the ballot without a political affiliation, received 4,107 votes in the primary, compared with 68,726 for the Republican senator.

In Alaska, the top four candidates in the primary advance, and the winner is determined through ranked-choice voting and the successive redistribution of votes. The Justice Department says the similarity between the names could divert votes to the Democratic candidate. The state Supreme Court ruled in June that Daniel J. Sullivan must remain on the ballot. Ranked-choice vote counting is scheduled to begin on November 18.