By: James Brooks, Alaska Beacon A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration that sought to block the state of Alaska from declaring a winner in the state’s U.S. Senate election. In a 20-page order issued Sunday morning, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason said the federal government failed to explain how it has the authority to bring its lawsuit. “Therefore, this court lacks jurisdiction and the United States’ amended complaint must be dismissed,” Gleason wrote. Less than two hours after Gleason’s judgment, the federal government said it would appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Legal experts had expected the result because the federal government’s arguments were legally questionable. President Donald Trump said last week he ordered the filing of the case, which asked a judge to stop the state from declaring anyone but incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan the winner.  Gleason is an appointee of President Barack Obama and the most senior federal judge in Alaska. Polling averages indicate Democratic candidate Mary Peltola is slightly ahead of Sullivan in a race that could help determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate. A New York Times article on Wednesday said Democratic