Alaska governor orders probe into alleged election-manipulation scheme in tight Senate race

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into allegations that a campaign-linked effort was designed to influence the state's closely watched Senate race. The dispute centres on claims that people connected to Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's team worked with others to recruit a second candidate with the same name as her Republican opponent, Dan Sullivan. Both Peltola's team and the second Dan Sullivan deny wrongdoing.

Dunleavy said he was acting on a news report that described an alleged scheme to manipulate Alaska's elections. In a statement, he said the reporting supported findings by the state Division of Elections earlier this year and directed the Department of Public Safety to investigate whether Alaska laws were broken. He said investigators should determine whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted, adding that the evidence would decide what happens next.

The ballot is set to list the two men as Dan S Sullivan, described as the incumbent Republican senator, and Daniel J Sullivan Jr. The second Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher who lives in a remote fishing village, has denied any links to the Peltola campaign. He told the newspaper in August that he was running in good faith as a moderate Republican, although he said he had voted for Peltola in previous contests.

The allegations have become part of a wider political fight in one of the tightest races in the upcoming US midterm elections. Republicans, including Senator Dan Sullivan, have accused Democrats of trying to confuse voters, while President Donald Trump has called for Peltola to be barred. Senator Sullivan said she should "come clean" and described the matter as a scandal of the highest order, while fellow Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski accused the Democratic campaign of a pattern of lies.

The case also comes after previous Republican efforts to remove the second Dan Sullivan from the ballot were rejected by the Alaska Supreme Court. That means the name issue remains in place as voters prepare to go to the polls across the country on Tuesday. The race is being closely watched because control of Congress is at stake in the midterm elections, and Alaska is seen as one of the most competitive contests.

What remains unclear is whether the investigation will lead to any charges, civil action or changes to the ballot before voting begins. It is also not yet clear what weight the state inquiry will give to the earlier election findings cited by Dunleavy. The outcome may shape both the Alaska contest and the broader debate over election integrity in a race already marked by accusations and denials.

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