// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Alaska governor orders probe into Democratic campaign's alleged links to same-name candidate
Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy said he was acting on claims in a news report
The Republican governor of Alaska has ordered an investigation into an alleged "scheme" which led to two Dan Sullivans standing in the state's US Senate race.
Governor Mike Dunleavy said he was responding to a New York Times (NYT) story, external which said the team of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola worked with people who tried to recruit spoiler candidates in the Senate race.
The governor's post on X said he would investigate "whether this scheme violated Alaska's laws". He did not say which laws he had in mind.
Dan Sullivan, the incumbent Republican senator running for re-election, and allies have accused the Democrats of trying to confuse voters. Peltola's team deny any wrongdoing.
They say they did not encourage the second Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher who lives in a remote fishing village, to stand. He has denied any links with the Peltola campaign.
The ballot paper is set to list the two men as Dan S Sullivan, who will be described as the incumbent Republican senator, and Daniel J Sullivan Jr.
Senator Dan Sullivan told Fox News on Wednesday night that Peltola should "come clean" and described it as a scandal of the highest order.
His fellow Republican senator in Alaska, Lisa Murkowksi, accused the Democratic campaign of engaging in a "pattern of lies". President Donald Trump has called for Peltola to be barred.
The Alaska race is considered by analysts to be one of the tightest of the upcoming US midterm elections, which will decide which party controls Congress. Americans head to the polls across the country on Tuesday.