Federal and state prosecutors are investigating whether a second Dan Sullivan joined Alaska's Senate race to confuse voters

Federal and state authorities in Alaska are examining whether a second candidate named Dan Sullivan entered the state's U.S. Senate race as part of a coordinated effort to confuse voters, NBC News reported, citing people familiar with the inquiry.

The FBI, the Alaska attorney general's office and the U.S. attorney's office in Alaska are looking into whether two or more people worked together to launch the challenger's campaign, according to NBC News. Investigators are weighing possible wire fraud charges or a conspiracy to deprive Alaskans of a free and fair election, which could be prosecuted as a civil rights violation.

Two men, one name

Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, a Republican, has held the seat since 2015. The challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, is a former teacher from Petersburg who announced his campaign in May and registered as a Republican for the first time in more than 40 years of voting in Alaska. He has said his bid to unseat the incumbent is legitimate.

Sen. Sullivan and other Republicans have said the newcomer's campaign is an attempt to split the Republican vote and help the Democratic candidate, former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola.

Dan J. Sullivan has denied any coordination or contact with Peltola's campaign, the Alaska Democratic Party or national Democratic strategists, calling the allegation "entirely false." A spokesperson for Peltola said, "Our campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign."

The ballot fight

Before the investigation became public, the two sides were already in court over whether the challenger belongs on the ballot at all.

On June 15, Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher ruled that Dan J. Sullivan's declaration of candidacy was not filed in good faith and declared him ineligible. Anchorage Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews overturned that decision. On June 29, about three hours after hearing oral arguments, the Alaska Supreme Court allowed the challenger to appear on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. The court sent the question of how he will be listed back to the Division of Elections, to be decided under existing ballot-design law.

What happens in August

Alaska uses a top-four open primary. Every candidate appears on one ballot on Aug. 18, and the four highest finishers advance to the November general election regardless of party. Under that system, both Sullivans and Peltola could appear on the fall ballot together.