Judge tosses Trump attempt to block Alaska vote results if Republican loses - Nikkei Asia

(Reuters) -- A federal judge on Sunday threw out a lawsuit by President Donald Trump's administration seeking to block Alaska from certifying a loss by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Tuesday's midterm elections if votes for a rival who shares his name could have changed the outcome.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage was the latest blow to Trump's efforts to assert a greater federal role in elections, which under the U.S. Constitution are administered by the states.

Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola is challenging Sullivan in the race, whose outcome could prove critical for determining whether Trump's fellow Republicans can retain control of the Senate in the midterms. Democrats need a net gain of at least four seats in November's midterm elections to gain control of the Senate.