Alaska Senate candidate denies knowing about alleged plot to put two Dan Sullivans on ballot

Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola has denied she knew anything regarding an alleged "scheme" that led to two men named Dan Sullivan standing in the Alaska Senate race.

Key points

• But those denials have not halted the US Department of Justice and Republicans from attacking Peltola.
• Dan S Sullivan, the incumbent Republican senator running for re-election, and allies have accused the Democrats of trying to confuse voters.
• Both Dan Sullivans have been running for the open Senate seat for some time.
• The non-partisan Cook Political Report at present classifies the race as a toss-up.
• The Peltola campaign has denied those reports and Sullivan has denied any links to the campaign.

Meanwhile, the denial comes as the Trump administration continues to escalate a criminal investigation into the matter, according to US media. The Republican governor of the state ordered an official inquiry earlier this week.

Meanwhile, the Alaska race is considered by analysts to be one of the tightest of the upcoming US midterm elections. It will decide which party controls Congress.

"I just want to clear the air, " Peltola remarked while speaking to voters on Thursday. "I knew nothing regarding any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known regarding. I am not interested in tricking voters."

Both Dan Sullivans have been running for the open Senate seat for some time. Still, controversy erupted earlier this week when The New York Times, external documented that Peltola's team worked with residents who tried to recruit spoiler candidates in the Senate race.

As well as senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), worked to try to recruit Dan J Sullivan, a retired teacher who lives in a remote fishing village, to stand in the Senate race, the Times's report alleged that individuals connected to Peltola's campaign.

For context, the paper remarked it had seen text messages and interviewed 12 residents who participated in or were informed of the plan, or were would-be candidates who the team tried to recruit. The BBC has not independently verified the reporting.

Notably, the Peltola campaign has denied those reports and Sullivan has denied any links to the campaign.

In practice, the justice department has begun issuing subpoenas targeting Democratic authorities allegedly connected to the effort to recruit Dan J Sullivan to be on the Alaska ballot, according to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner. No charges have been filed as of Friday morning.

Notably, the Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit last week aimed at preventing the certification of the result if the Trump-backed Sullivan loses, arguing that the presence of both of them on the ballot could confuse voters.

On Wednesday, the justice department amended its lawsuit to include the reporting by the Times, citing significant sections of the story as well as Governor Mike Dunleavy's announcement of an investigation.

For context, the legal action comes days before voters throughout the US head to the polls. As it could be the deciding factor in who controls the Senate, this race in Alaska is among the closest-watched in the country.

Meanwhile, the non-partisan Cook Political Report at present classifies the race as a toss-up.

For now, alaska Senate candidate denies knowing about alleged plot to put two Dan remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.