Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign is under fire after a New York Times report said it helped recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, ABC News, Fox News and The Guardian report. The race against Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is one of the most closely watched in next week's midterms.

The Times reported that Peltola aides and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, or DSCC, worked to get Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot. ABC News reports the Times relied on 12 sources, texts and documents. The effort was called the "ballot composition project" inside the campaign.

Fox News reports the Times named Ohio operative Jerid Kurtz as central to the plan. The Times reported he used fake names while meeting possible candidates around the state. Former campaign manager Elisa Rios said Peltola was not directly involved but was "definitely aware." Rios, who was fired in August, later tried to retract her comments, the outlets report.

Peltola's campaign said it "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign." The DSCC said it was "not involved with Dan J. Sullivan." It accused Republicans of propping up candidates in past races. Ballot-stacking is common and widely considered legal, ABC News reports, citing the Times.

President Trump called it "election fraud" and said Peltola and the other Sullivan should be removed from the ballot. A spokesman for Senator Sullivan said Peltola's campaign had spent "months gaslighting Alaskans."

Alaska courts found nothing illegal about Dan J. Sullivan's bid, ABC News reports. He finished third in the August primary with 2.5 percent. ABC News also reports the Justice Department has an open criminal probe into his candidacy.

What we know: A Times report says Peltola's campaign helped recruit the second Sullivan, and the campaign denies it.
What we don't: Whether the report will lead to any legal action before Election Day.