A federal judge on Sunday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the President’s Administration donald trump that sought to prevent Alaska from certifying an eventual defeat of Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in Tuesday’s midterm elections, in case votes in favor of a rival who shares his name could have altered the result.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage was the latest setback to the efforts of trump for strengthening the role of the federal government in elections, which, under the United States Constitution, are administered by the states.
The race, in which former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola faces off against Sullivan, could prove decisive in determining whether Trump’s fellow Republicans can maintain control of the Senate in the midterm elections.
The Administration trump has taken an increasingly aggressive approach to election oversight, pressuring states to provide voter registration data and arguing that stronger measures are needed to ensure public confidence in voting.
Critics, including Democratic election officials and some Republicans, see these measures as federal overreach.
