Mary Peltola, a Democratic candidate seeking a U.S. Senate seat in Alaska, was involved in a multi-vehicle collision on Saturday while traveling with family members to the Alaska Federation of Natives annual banquet. According to her campaign, all parties sustained minor injuries, and Peltola received medical attention at a local hospital. The Anchorage Police Department responded to the incident at approximately 6:55 p.m., with occupants of two vehicles transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, while a third vehicle’s occupant declined medical transport. Police stated that the circumstances of the collision remain under investigation.
Following the incident, Peltola’s campaign announced that scheduled events in Fairbanks and Bethel would be rescheduled to allow time for recovery. Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce stated that Peltola and her family were “in good spirits” and that the candidate was “disappointed that the accident is delaying the start of her Alaska Always tour.” The campaign indicated Peltola planned to resume campaign activities on Tuesday with an appearance in Homer, as part of an eight-stop tour scheduled for the final week before election day.
Peltola, an Alaska Native and former congresswoman, is running against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in what observers have characterized as one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races. The race has drawn particular attention regarding competition for support among Alaska Native voters. On Friday, before the collision occurred, former President Donald Trump ordered the justice department to block certification of the Senate election in Alaska if Sullivan loses, citing potential ballot confusion involving another Republican candidate also named Daniel J Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher, listed on the ranked-choice ballot.
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