Alaska governor orders state probe into Senate race candidate dispute

Voters in Alaska will face a state-led investigation into the mechanics of the upcoming Senate race. Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, issued a directive early Thursday to examine whether Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola's campaign should face charges. This move follows President Donald Trump's demand on Wednesday for a federal criminal probe into the matter.

The controversy centers on the recruitment of a candidate with the same name as the incumbent Republican, Sen. Dan Sullivan. The New York Times obtained text messages showing Peltola's staff discussed recruiting individuals sharing the senator's name. They eventually selected a retired schoolteacher named Dan J. Sullivan, who now appears as one of four candidates on the ranked-choice voting ballot in the general election.

Dunleavy posted his order on social media, signaling the state's intent to determine if legal standards were met for the candidate's inclusion. Trump stated his belief that Peltola and the other Sullivan should be prosecuted. The president had previously directed his Department of Justice to sue to block the certification of the race if Peltola were to defeat the incumbent.

During a campaign stop on Wednesday, Peltola characterized the media report as a distraction from policy issues. She pointed to Sen. Sullivan's support for the war in Iran as a key point of contention for voters in the state.

The dispute over spoiler candidates has drawn comments from national leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson described the situation on Fox News Channel as an evil tactic designed to confuse the electorate. He said the party intends to expose the strategy. While parties often support extra candidates to pull votes from rivals, legal experts note that the federal government generally has no role in challenging results if state courts allow the ballot configuration.

In Ohio, Republicans have been linked to a similar effort to place a socialist on the ballot to draw votes away from Democrat Sherrod Brown. This candidate is challenging Sen. Jon Husted. The presence of such third-party options is a recurring feature in close midterm contests where parties seek to split the opposition's vote.

Separately, a federal judge in California rejected a request from the Trump administration to pause the processing of ballots for up to 20,000 people. The administration alleged these voters were likely noncitizens. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter warned that segregating votes would wreak havoc on the midterm elections. More than 3.7 million people have already voted in California.

The Justice Department said it would immediately appeal the ruling. Judge Carter wrote that eroded trust in democracy is irreparable and that the court declined to participate in a process that threatened an ongoing election based on unproven allegations. This decision marks the latest legal setback for federal efforts to expand control over state-run elections.

Economic data released Thursday showed initial jobless claims fell to 194,000, the lowest level since mid-July. The Labor Department report indicates layoffs remain low. However, hiring has been modest, with employers adding an average of 68,000 jobs per month this year. Inflation accelerated in September, with consumer prices rising 3.6% from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August.

Gas prices average about $4.25 per gallon, well above the president's campaign promise of under $2. Former President Barack Obama campaigned in Georgia on Wednesday, criticizing Trump's focus on White House renovations. Trump held a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, urging supporters to vote to secure a victory in the midterms.