Mary Peltola injured in car crash days before Alaska Senate race, delaying key campaign tour

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola sustained minor injuries in a car crash in Alaska on Saturday, October 24, temporarily disrupting her campaign activities just days before the November 3 midterm election.

Peltola, 53, was traveling to the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet when her vehicle was struck by another car, according to her campaign. The incident forced her team to reschedule campaign events planned for Sunday and Monday as she prepared to launch an eight-day statewide tour.

Mary Peltola sustains minor injuries in Alaska car crash

Peltola and her family sustained minor injuries and were in good spirits following the crash, campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said in a statement.

“Mary is disappointed that the accident is delaying the start of her Alaska Always Tour, and she is eager to get back on the campaign trail to speak directly with Alaskans about her plan to take on the rigged system and lower costs for working families,” Bruce said.

The campaign did not provide further details about the circumstances of the collision in the statement.

Peltola shared a campaign statement on her official X account on October 25 regarding upcoming campaign stops in Fairbanks and Bethel for the Alaska Always Tour.

Peltola had been scheduled to begin her eight-day 'Alaska Always Tour' in the final stretch before the November 3 election. Her campaign had planned events for Sunday and Monday that were subsequently rescheduled following the crash.

The Alaska Senate contest is considered one of seven toss-up races by the Cook Political Report, making it a closely watched contest in the battle for control of the Senate.

Peltola served in the US House of Representatives from early 2023 through early 2025 before launching her Senate campaign.

Mary Peltola challenges Dan Sullivan in closely watched Alaska Senate race

Peltola is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. A RealClearPolitics polling aggregate showed Peltola with a 1.2 percentage-point lead over Sullivan at the time of its report.

The race has also drawn attention over the candidacy of another person named Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher known by critics as “Decoy Dan.” He is registered as a Republican but has faced scrutiny over his political history and activities.

The Justice Department sued the previous week to block certification of Alaska's Senate race if the incumbent Sullivan loses, citing concerns related to the similarly named candidate, according to the report.

Peltola's campaign had not announced a new start date for the postponed tour in the information provided. The crash came as candidates entered the final days of campaigning before voters decide the closely watched Senate contest.