Alaska’s Democratic Senate candidate suffers minor injuries in car crash, campaign says

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - Alaska’s Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and her family were injured in a car crash, delaying the last sprint of her campaign tour.

Her campaign said Peltola and her family were heading to a campaign stop at the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet Friday night when the car they were in was hit by another vehicle.

Peltola and her family suffered minor injuries and needed medical attention.

The incident has delayed what Peltola’s campaign calls her “Alaska Always Tour,” an eight-stop push through the last week before Election Day. Her campaign manager, Cheryl Bruce, said medical professionals advised Peltola to delay her upcoming events Sunday and Monday so she can recover.

“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.

Peltola, an Alaska Native and former congresswoman, is challenging Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, hoping to become the first Democrat in nearly two decades to represent the state in the Senate.

On Friday, President Donald Trump said he told his administration to sue to block certification of the race if Sullivan loses. The lawsuit cites potential confusion with another candidate who is listed on the ranked-choice ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.