Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola and a voters' rights group have sued to stop the Trump administration from blocking certification of the state's Senate race. The suits argue the administration has no legal basis to delay confirming results that preliminary counts show favor a Democratic win.

The challenge follows an earlier Justice Department lawsuit that sought to pause Alaska's certification process, a move Democrats called an unusual attempt to intervene in a state-run election. The seat has drawn national attention because control of the Senate could hinge on a handful of close midterm races.

A federal court is expected to hear arguments within days, with both sides pressing for a quick ruling ahead of Alaska's statutory certification deadline. The case could set a precedent for how far a sitting administration can go in contesting results it dislikes.