Trump escalates legal challenges and restores rallies as US midterm elections near
SPY•Trump restored planned weekend rallies and intensified legal efforts ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. More than 48 million early ballots have been cast, while courts rejected a request to block counting some California mail ballots and a Justice Department lawsuit in Alaska seeks to block certification in the event of a narrow Republican loss.
1. Legal fights intensify
The Justice Department is pursuing cases in Alaska and California as the November 3 election approaches. In Alaska, an amended lawsuit seeks to block certification if the Republican Senate incumbent narrowly loses, citing allegations about a same-name third-party candidate. The candidate and Democratic groups have denied or disputed claims of a coordinated effort.
2. California ballot ruling
A US appeals court rejected the Justice Department’s request to temporarily block California from counting mail ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters the administration alleges are likely noncitizens. A lower court had also denied the request, saying it could disenfranchise thousands of legal voters; California officials said the department relied on suspect data.
3. Voting and campaign activity
More than 48 million early ballots have been cast, a record for a US midterm election, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. Trump restored weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa after they were canceled, and planned to campaign in Florida. Detroit election officials are arranging media access to routine ballot transport and counting operations amid concerns about misinformation.
