President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to file a lawsuit to block the certification of the US Senate race in Alaska if Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses. The Justice Department is suing Alaska election officials to prevent the certification of results if the Democratic candidate wins.
The administration claims there is a risk of voter confusion because two individuals with similar names will be on the ballot. The Justice Department is asking the federal court to block certification if Senator Sullivan loses but would have won had the other Sullivan's votes been counted for him.
The Alaska race is one of several contests around the United States that could determine whether Republicans retain their slim majority in the Senate. President Trump took credit for the legal action, signaling the administration's willingness to contest the results of the November 3 midterm elections.
This move has sparked concerns about the US government meddling in midterm races and the possibility of a lengthy battle between the federal government and states over election certification. The legal battle is also ramping up questions over whether President Trump will accept a potential midterms defeat.