A campaign used my name in a neighbor-to-neighbor text and now the block thinks I endorsed it

Yesterday three neighbors received political texts that began, "Your neighbor Sam wants you to know..." I am Sam. I did not send them, approve them, or volunteer for the campaign.

The most likely explanation is embarrassingly ordinary. Months ago I signed up for updates about a local issue and entered my address. I may also have clicked a button saying I supported one part of the campaign's platform. I do not remember seeing language that my name could appear in messages to people nearby. I am not claiming the campaign broke a law because I have not reviewed the sign-up terms or the local rules. I am saying the message created a social fact that is not true: my neighbors now think I recruited them.

One neighbor replied to the text with a thumbs-up and later thanked me. Another knocked on my door and asked why I had given out her number. A third sent a sarcastic message about keeping politics off the block. I spent the evening explaining that I was as surprised as they were.

I found an unsubscribe link and a general contact form. I took screenshots showing the sender details, wording, and time. My proposed response is narrow: ask the campaign to stop using my name in neighbor outreach, explain where it obtained my authorization, and confirm whether any future messages are queued. I would not accuse it publicly before giving it a chance to correct the record.

But I also need to speak to the neighbors. A giant apology may imply I caused the messages. Silence leaves the endorsement intact. I am leaning toward a short note: "A campaign message used my name without a request from me. I did not provide your number or ask them to contact you. I have told the campaign to stop."

Would you send that to the whole block chat or only to people who mention it? And how much investigation is reasonable before treating this as a mistaken permission setting rather than a deliberate tactic?