Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign reportedly recruited second Dan Sullivan in Alaska Senate race

Republicans have condemned the presence of two Dan Sullivans on the ballot, calling it a ploy to split votes

Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign was behind an effort to recruit a challenger with almost the exact same name as the Republican US senator Dan Sullivan, both of whom will appear on the ballot in next week's midterm elections, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.

Republicans have condemned the presence in the race of two candidates named Dan Sullivan - one the two-term US senator, the second a retiree living in south-eastern Alaska with scant political experience - calling the newcomer a ploy by Democrats to cost the incumbent re-election by splitting his supporters.