President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has filed a preemptive lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate race under a specific scenario that could produce a Democratic victory. The move marks a dramatic escalation after months of arguments over two candidates with nearly identical names.

The dispute began after a state judge ruled in late June that retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan could run against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. That decision overturned an earlier ruling from the Alaska Division of Elections.

A few months later, state election officials finalized the top four candidates following the first round of balloting under Alaska’s unique election system. Both Dan Sullivans advanced to the general election, creating exactly the ballot situation the Republican incumbent and Trump have challenged.

Trump and his political team have made their anxiety about the contest plain. Now, the president’s administration is attempting to turn that concern into federal legal action before election officials certify a result that could hurt Republicans.

Late Thursday, the Justice Department filed litigation intended to prevent certification of the Senate race, but only if the Republican incumbent loses while the rival candidate with the similar name remains on the ballot. The lawsuit therefore targets a particular potential result rather than seeking to stop certification under every scenario.

The Associated Press reported that the case begins “what many have feared could become a lengthy battle between the U.S. government and states over certifying an election where the president’s party is struggling.” That prospect pushes the Alaska contest beyond an unusual dispute involving two candidates who share a name.

Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola could win the race. The Justice Department’s effort could consequently affect whether she is seated and which political party ultimately controls a majority in the Senate.

The lawsuit did not materialize without warning. During a White House event in early September, Trump publicly urged Attorney General Todd Blanche to pursue a case in Alaska focused specifically on the competing candidates and their nearly identical names.

Trump intensified that pressure last week by claiming federal authorities were “looking into” the matter. He also promoted assorted conspiracy theories even though, according to the source, there was no evidence supporting them.

As recently as Wednesday, Trump used his social media platform to attack the ballot arrangement, the rival candidate and the judge who allowed the candidacy. His statement framed the situation as cheating and claimed that his preferred Republican candidate was comfortably ahead.

Trump wrote, “Dan S. Sullivan is leading by a lot, but this is CHEATING in an Election, and the Judge that allowed this to happen should be ashamed of himself. We are looking at powerful legal options to remove the fraudulent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the Ballot, and holding the Democrats accountable for their Election Interference, in the pursuit of Justice and Fairness.”

The statement contained obvious falsehoods. Most recent polling in Alaska shows the Republican incumbent trailing rather than “leading by a lot,” directly contradicting the president’s description of the race.

There is also nothing indicating that Democratic officials participated in “election interference.” Their identified role has been championing their party’s nominee, not manipulating the ballot or orchestrating the candidacy of the retired teacher.

The administration’s lawsuit nevertheless puts federal power behind Trump’s complaints before the result has been certified. Its conditional nature is particularly striking because the requested intervention would matter only if the Republican incumbent loses and the similarly named rival remains on the ballot.

Concerns have long existed that the Trump administration might attempt to derail election results it dislikes. The Justice Department’s new Alaska lawsuit suggests those fears were not abstract, especially with a possible Democratic victory and Senate control potentially hanging in the balance.

The case now places Alaska’s election process, a disputed candidacy and a closely watched Senate contest inside a broader confrontation between the federal government and a state over certification. The story remains developing, with further updates expected as the litigation and election proceed.