A closely watched U.S. Senate campaign in Alaska is stoking controversy after a candidate bearing the same name as one of the major candidates entered the race.

As the Republican incumbent in the race, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) is engaged in one of the tightest campaigns for the upper chamber in the country, facing a formidable challenger in former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. The recent entrance of another Dan Sullivan into the race has triggered accusations from the incumbent lawmaker and top Republican leadership that Democrats plotted his candidacy to derail the senator’s campaign and confuse voters.