California, the most populous US state and a Democratic stronghold, holds 52 seats in the House of Representatives, more than any other state. (EPA Images pic)NEW YORK: A US judge rejected on Wednesday a request by the Justice Department to temporarily block California from counting any mail ballots for the Nov 3 midterm elections received from people on a list of more than 20,000 registered voters the Trump administration alleges are likely noncitizens.
The decision marks the latest setback for President Donald Trump's effort to boost the federal government's role in elections ahead of the midterms, with his Republican Party locked in a tight battle to retain control of both houses of Congress.
