The Alaska Supreme Court on Monday, June 29, ruled that Dan J. Sullivan, of Petersburg, who has the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, is qualified to run for the seat and ordered state elections officials to place him on the Aug. 18 primary ballot.

The ruling came hours after arguments before the justices on Monday and just days after Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews found the Division of Elections had “abused its discretion” in booting the challenger Sullivan from the ballot.

The Supreme Court, in a brief ruling, affirmed Matthews’ decision but sent back to the elections division the issue of how the challenger should be listed on the ballot, “within the confines of existing Alaska ballot design law.”

The court said a full opinion explaining its decision would be released later.

Elections Division Director Carol Beecher issued a decision June 15 that found the challenger’s candidacy was not filed in good faith and instead was done with an intent to confuse voters. But Matthews ruled that Beecher’s decision was not based on the requirements set out by the U.S. Constitution to serve in the Senate — which address age, citizenship and residency — or on any state laws or regulations.

The dust-up over the two Dan Sullivans began with the challenger filing his candidacy about a month ago and has roiled one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate races in the country.

Dan J. Sullivan, 70, is a retired teacher. He filed to appear on the ballot as a Republican, the same party as Dan S. Sullivan, though he hadn’t previously affiliated as a Republican in 40-plus years of registering to vote in Alaska, the state asserted.

Dan J. Sullivan’s filing prompted accusations by the senator and his allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, that the challenger is a sham candidate intent on sowing chaos to benefit the Democrat in the race, former Alaska U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola.

That led to an investigation of his candidacy by Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who oversees elections, and the decision to deny Dan J. Sullivan a spot on the ballot.

The Petersburg resident has maintained that he is running because he believes the incumbent senator has done a poor job serving Alaskans.

Alaska’s race is one of about a half dozen Senate contests across the nation this year that are considered competitive and that could determine control of the chamber for President Donald Trump’s final two years in office.

The case has drawn national attention. Several parties were allowed to file “friends of the court” briefs in the case, including Iowa and 13 other states that supported the Division of Elections’ argument, the Anchorage Daily News reported on Monday.

Alaska Chief Justice Susan Carney and Justices Jennifer Henderson, Jude Pate and Aimee Oravec heard the case. Supreme Court Justice Dario Borghesan recused himself from the case. He is related to one of the attorneys for Dan J. Sullivan, said Rebecca Koford, a spokesperson with the courts.

Early last week, the Petersburg Sullivan appealed to the courts to take up Beecher’s decision disqualifying him from the ballot. In fast-tracked court proceedings, Matthews ruled in favor of Dan J. Sullivan last Friday, June 26. The state immediately appealed, leading to the state Supreme Court hearing.