Alaska Senate Candidate Mary Peltola Suffers Minor Injuries in Car Crash
The incident has led to the rescheduling of several campaign events in the final stretch before the midterm elections.
Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola and her family were involved in a two-vehicle collision in Anchorage on Saturday night. The crash occurred as the family was traveling to the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet.
Peltola's campaign confirmed that she and her family sustained minor injuries but are "in good spirits." However, following medical advice, Peltola will need to reschedule upcoming campaign events in Fairbanks and Bethel. Her campaign expressed her disappointment about the delay to her "Alaska Always Tour" and her eagerness to return to the campaign trail.
The incident occurs during a critical period in Alaska's closely watched Senate race, a contest between Peltola and incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Both campaigns are actively working to mobilize voters in the final weeks before the November midterm elections.
Peltola, an Alaska Native and former congresswoman, is seeking to become the first Democrat in nearly two decades to win a Senate seat from the state. Both candidates have focused on engaging Alaska Native voters, a key demographic in this significant race.
The election also features a unique voting system in Alaska, where voters rank their preferences. This system has drawn attention, with former President Donald Trump expressing concerns that it could be manipulated. Trump has alleged that the presence of another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the ballot is a "Democrat scam" intended to confuse voters and potentially lead to Senator Dan Sullivan's defeat. Trump urged Alaskans to vote "YES" against ranked-choice voting on Ballot Measure 2.
Peltola has outraised Sullivan in terms of total contributions through October, but Sullivan reported a larger amount of campaign cash on hand. Republican campaigns have collectively outspent Democratic campaigns in the race.