This is bad news for democratic norms and a sign Republicans fear big losses in the midterms, with the Trump administration trying to use the courts to block results it doesn't like before votes are even counted.

• Trump admitted he personally ordered the Justice Department to sue Alaska to block certifying its Senate race unless the Republican incumbent wins.
• The lawsuit claims voter confusion because two candidates named "Sullivan" are on the ballot, but the ballot clearly labels the incumbent and courts already allowed the second Sullivan to run.
• A Democrat is currently slightly ahead in a race that could flip control of the Senate, and legal experts say the lawsuit has no real basis and looks designed to delay the count rather than prove fraud.
• Trump's attorney general would not rule out using this same tactic to block certification in other states if Republicans lose there too.
• Candidates sharing a last name happens often and is not illegal; actual proven election fraud recently came from Republicans in North Carolina, not Democrats.

Outlook: Expect more lawsuits like this from the DOJ in other close midterm races as Republicans brace for losses tied to the economy, the war, and unpopular policies.