Is it legal to recruit a candidate with the same name as one's opponent?

As of October 29, 2026, The New York Times reported that Mary Peltola's campaign, running for a U.S. Senate seat against incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, allegedly recruited another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan to confuse voters and potentially siphon votes from the incumbent. This secret effort was part of what Peltola’s team called the "ballot composition project" and involved senior officials from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). The Justice Department is now investigating these allegations, issuing subpoenas related to voter confusion and recruitment tactics.

The controversy began in 2025 when Peltola's campaign started working with unnamed individuals to recruit a Dan Sullivan who would run as a Republican but not actively campaign, potentially misleading voters into splitting their votes between the two candidates named Dan Sullivan. The governor of Alaska has since ordered another investigation following these revelations, amid concerns over election integrity and voter manipulation.

This development has significant implications for both Peltola’s chances in the Senate race and the broader political landscape, as Democrats aim to regain control of the U.S. Senate from Republicans by winning key races like this one in Alaska.