Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola and Family Injured in Car Crash
Peltola's campaign stops postponed following accident; Senate race remains a key midterm battleground.
Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola and her family sustained minor injuries in a car crash Saturday night while en route to the Alaska Federation of Natives' annual banquet. The incident has led to the postponement of several campaign events for her midterm election bid.
Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce stated that Peltola and her loved ones are "in good spirits" but, on the advice of medical professionals, will reschedule upcoming campaign stops in Fairbanks and Bethel. The rest of her tour is expected to continue as planned.
Peltola, 53, is challenging incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan for Alaska's Senate seat. The race is considered a critical contest in the upcoming midterm elections, with the Cook Political Report rating it as a toss-up. Recent polling has indicated a slight lead for Peltola, raising concerns among Republicans about the state potentially shifting to Democratic control.
The campaign has been intense, with former President Donald Trump reportedly ordering the Justice Department to sue Alaska to block the certification of its Senate election results if Sullivan were to lose. Trump's administration filed a lawsuit late Thursday, arguing that voters could be confused by the presence of two candidates with similar names, Dan S. Sullivan Jr. and Senator Dan J. Sullivan. Trump has also referred to Peltola as "No Show Mary" and a "whack job."
Sullivan's campaign has also focused on Peltola's voting record, asserting she missed approximately 20% of votes during her time in the Alaska House of Representatives and as a member of Congress. Records indicate Peltola missed over 18% of state House votes between 1999 and 2009, more than 36% of meetings as a Bethel City Council member between 2011 and 2013, and over 17% of roll-call votes in Congress between 2022 and 2024. Peltola's team has accused Republicans of exploiting her family's tragedy for political gain.
Peltola's campaign has stated 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."