Alaska prosecutor investigates alleged Democratic plot to confuse voters with second Dan Sullivan

Alaska's top federal prosecutor confirmed a criminal and civil investigation into an alleged Democratic effort to confuse voters by fielding a second candidate named Dan Sullivan in the US Senate race. The Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan, and his allies accuse Democrats of recruiting a spoiler candidate with the same name.

Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola denied knowledge of the alleged scheme. The New York Times reported that her campaign and senior aides from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee tried to recruit Dan J Sullivan, a retired teacher, to run as a spoiler. Both candidates share the same last name as the incumbent.

The Trump administration has escalated the investigation, requesting election officials to separate ballots that rank the retired teacher. Alaska's Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy also ordered an inquiry. The DOJ has issued subpoenas, and the Peltola campaign has denied the allegations.