Alaska governor orders probe into Democratic campaign's alleged links to rival candidate

The Republican governor of Alaska has ordered an investigation into an alleged "scheme" designed "to manipulate Alaska's elections".

Governor Mike Dunleavy said he was responding to a New York Times (NYT) report, external. The story said the team of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola worked with people who tried to recruit a man to contest the Senate race who shares their name with Peltola's opponent, Dan Sullivan.

Sullivan, the incumbent senator, and fellow Republicans have accused the Democrats of trying to confuse voters. President Donald Trump has called for Peltola to be barred.

Peltola's team deny any wrongdoing, or encouraging the second Dan Sullivan to stand in the tight contest.