The Justice Department has begun sending a new wave of subpoenas in its criminal probe of Alaska's Senate race, ABC News reports. The outlet cites multiple sources familiar with the matter. The probe looks at an alleged effort by Democrats to recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

The subpoenas target Democratic officials believed to be tied to the effort to put Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, on the ballot, ABC News reports. Prosecutors are weighing whether the effort could break federal conspiracy laws, the outlet says, citing sources.

The subpoenas followed a New York Times report that said members of Democratic nominee Mary Peltola's campaign and national party aides pushed to find a spoiler candidate. Alaska's Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the second Sullivan's candidacy was legal.

Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered the state's Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the effort broke Alaska law. "The evidence will determine what happens next," he said in a statement reported by ABC News.

In an interview with Fox News, Dunleavy blamed the state's ranked-choice voting system. "This would have never happened if we didn't have ranked-choice voting," he said. He argued a traditional party primary would have kept the second Sullivan off the November ballot. "If you can smell the fish way far from the dock, you've got a real problem," he added.

Peltola's campaign has said it "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign," ABC News reports. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it was "not involved with Dan J. Sullivan."

What we know: Federal and state officials are investigating how a second Dan Sullivan got on Alaska's ballot.
What we don't: Who received the subpoenas, or whether anyone will face charges.