President Trump told the Justice Department to intervene in Alaska’s Senate race, where polling shows Republicans at risk of losing a seat. The tale of Alaska’s two Dan Sullivans has been an uncanny subplot of the midterms, involving the incumbent Republican senator, Dan S. Sullivan, and a constituent turned long-shot challenger with an almost identical name. That story is now a really big deal.
In a highly unusual move, President Trump directed the Justice Department to ask a federal court to block the certification of that race if Sullivan, the senator, loses narrowly. His primary rival for the seat is Mary Peltola, a Democrat and a former congresswoman who has led him in several polls. But Alaska has a complicated ballot, and the Trump administration is seeking to act before results are final.
The intervention raises questions about federal involvement in state election certification and could affect control of the U.S. Senate. Both candidates remain in a tight contest as the state processes its ranked-choice voting system.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing