Mary Peltola, the Democratic Senate nominee in Alaska, was involved in a two-vehicle accident with her family on Saturday night. This incident has prompted her campaign to modify her schedule as the midterm elections approach.
The collision occurred near the Alaska Federation of Natives convention, where various candidate events were taking place. According to the campaign, another vehicle struck the one carrying Peltola and her family, who were en route to the Federation’s Annual Banquet.
Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce stated, “Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits. Regrettably, based on medical advice, Mary’s upcoming events in Fairbanks and Bethel will need to be rescheduled later in the week so she can recover.” Bruce added that Peltola is disappointed about the delay in her campaign plans—specifically the Alaska Always Tour—and is looking forward to returning to the campaign trail to connect with voters about reducing costs for working families.
This pause in campaigning comes at a crucial juncture in Alaska’s Senate race between Peltola and incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan, with both candidates pressing to engage voters ahead of the November election.
Peltola, who is an Alaska Native and former congresswoman, aims to be the first Democrat to secure a Senate seat for Alaska in nearly 20 years. Both candidates are actively seeking the support of Alaska Native voters, a vital demographic in this closely watched contest.
Donald Trump held a rally for Sullivan earlier this month and indicated that he might pursue legal action to contest the race’s certification if Sullivan does not win. This potential lawsuit stems from concerns over another candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who may confuse voters due to the ranked-choice voting system in Alaska.
In Alaska, voters can rank their preferences rather than selecting just one candidate. The ballot will include four candidates, among them Sullivan, Peltola, and the aforementioned Sullivan Jr., whom Republicans argue is a decoy aimed at misleading voters.
Trump expressed his views on social media, claiming that the ranked-choice system is a Democratic tactic to confuse voters and undermine Sullivan’s campaign, urging voters to reject it. He concluded with a call to defend Alaska’s Republican seat, asserting that losing it would stall progress for the state.
On the fundraising front, Peltola has significantly outpaced Sullivan for campaign contributions through October, raising $33 million to his nearly $14 million. However, Sullivan still possesses more available campaign cash, with $5.1 million compared to Peltola’s $3.2 million. Overall, Republicans have spent more in this election cycle, totaling $42 million against the Democrats’ $38 million.
