Alaska Senate race faces investigations over alleged effort to recruit spoiler candidate

Alaska's competitive U.S. Senate race is facing increased scrutiny after allegations surfaced that Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's campaign worked to recruit a candidate with the same name as her Republican opponent.

(NBC)- Alaska’s competitive U.S. Senate race is facing increased scrutiny after allegations surfaced that Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign worked to recruit a candidate with the same name as her Republican opponent.

Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation following a New York Times report alleging that Peltola’s campaign coordinated with national Democrats to recruit another candidate named Dan Sullivan.

The alleged effort was intended to confuse supporters of incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan and potentially draw votes away from him.

“This is really problematic for not just their campaign, but again for election integrity,” Dunleavy said.

The controversy has also prompted federal scrutiny.

According to a U.S. official, the Department of Justice launched an investigation and issued at least three dozen subpoenas and document preservation requests.

President Donald Trump has called for Peltola and the other candidate, Dan J. Sullivan, to be removed from the ballot and prosecuted.

Senator Sullivan accused his opponent’s campaign of attempting to “trick Alaskans into throwing away their vote.”

Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied the New York Times report’s allegations and any wrongdoing.

“I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot,” Peltola said. “I am not interested in tricking voters.”

Election analysts say recruiting so-called spoiler candidates is generally not illegal, although certain financial arrangements could raise legal concerns.

The tactic has been used by both major political parties in previous elections.

“We’ve seen this type of tomfoolery in many races, including in races in Alaska in the past,” said NBC News election analyst Stephen Richer.

Some Alaska voters say they are frustrated by the controversy.

“I’m bothered by shenanigans on either side,” voter Carter Bankroft said.

The investigations come as candidates enter the final weekend of campaigning before Election Day.

Alaska’s Senate contest is among the closely watched races that could help determine which party controls the chamber.

The allegations remain disputed, and no finding of wrongdoing was established in the information provided.