Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) claimed local voters are apologizing to him after worrying they mistakenly voted for the rival candidate with the same name, as a bitter election controversy threatens to overshadow his re-election battle against Democratic rival Mary Peltola.

Speaking to Fox News correspondent Matt Finn on Tuesday, the Alaska incumbent said voters had approached him after apparently confusing him with Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher whose presence on the ballot has prompted accusations of an elaborate Democratic dirty trick.

“We’ve been hearing from all kinds of people that are confused [when it comes to casting their ballot],” he said. “I’ve heard from people who think they’ve voted for the wrong guy and have apologized to me. Just like I said, the scheme is working.”

The allegations have engulfed Alaska’s closely contested Senate race following a New York Times investigation reporting that Democratic operatives spent months searching for someone named Dan Sullivan to run against the Republican incumbent.

According to the report, staffers connected to Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee discussed recruiting a namesake candidate who could potentially divert votes from the senator.

Peltola denied involvement in the alleged effort, while the second Sullivan has maintained that his candidacy was legitimate and that he was not recruited by her campaign.

President Donald Trump repeatedly intervened and spoke out about the name clash, accusing Democrats of attempting to manipulate the election. In an October Truth Social post, Trump called “CHEATING” and warned that even a small number of misdirected votes could determine the result.

The president subsequently acknowledged personally directing the Justice Department to pursue legal action over the ballot, declaring: “Well, I’m the one that said do it.”

Federal prosecutors sought to prevent Alaska from certifying a potential Peltola victory without examining ballots cast for the second Sullivan.

However, a federal judge dismissed the administration’s lawsuit on Sunday, ruling that the government lacked standing and that its proposed measures raised concerns about ballot secrecy. The Justice Department appealed the decision.

The controversy has also reached voters directly. On Sunday, NewsNation interviewed Republican voter Greg Martone, who expressed concern that he may have inadvertently selected the wrong Sullivan.

The official ballot identifies the sitting senator as the Republican incumbent, while listing his namesake separately without a party affiliation.

Alaska’s Supreme Court previously ruled that the retired teacher was eligible to stand for election, overturning an attempt by state officials to exclude him.