Republican officials have called for an investigation into an alleged ballot-stacking scheme in Alaska's competitive Senate race, according to a Guardian explainer. The Guardian said Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign reportedly recruited a second Dan Sullivan into the race, a move Republicans describe as a ploy to split votes.

The Guardian's summary also says that for months, Donald Trump and others accused Peltola, though the excerpt available for this report does not detail those accusations. CBS News reported that President Trump spoke to reporters before leaving for a South Carolina rally, where he weighed in on the Alaska race featuring two Dan Sullivans. In a CBS News video report, the headline quotes Trump as calling the situation "very unfair."

The New York Times reported on the fallout from the dispute over what its headline describes as Peltola's ballot-stacking plot, with reporting credited to Jess Bidgood. Its New York Times report summarizes that both sides have a long tradition of promoting spoiler candidates.

The accounts differ in emphasis. The Guardian and Republican officials frame the recruitment as an alleged scheme, while The New York Times's summary points to a broader tradition of spoiler candidates in both parties. CBS News focused on Trump's comments rather than on the recruitment itself.

The Guardian's account describes the recruitment as reported rather than confirmed, so the matter remains unverified in these reports. Neither The Guardian, CBS News nor The New York Times, in the material available for this story, says whether the requested investigation has begun or what Peltola's campaign has said in response.

The Guardian, CBS News and The New York Times each published their reports on Oct. 29.

Sources: The Guardian: Alaska Senate race: what to know about Democrats’ alleged ballot-stacking effort; CBS News: Trump says two Dan Sullivans on Alaska Senate ballot is "very unfair"; The New York Times: Fallout in Alaska Senate Race Over Peltola’s Ballot Stacking Plot.