Mary Peltola’s campaign manager says the Alaska Senate candidate and her family are “in good spirits” after a car crash forced them to postpone events.
Cheryl Bruce, who runs Peltola’s campaign, confirmed Saturday that the 53-year-old Democrat sustained minor injuries when another vehicle struck her car. The collision occurred as Peltola was traveling to the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet, upending the launch of her eight-day “Alaska Always Tour” just over a week before Election Day.
“Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits,” Bruce said in a statement.
The campaign has pushed back Peltola’s scheduled Sunday and Monday appearances, though no new dates were immediately announced. Bruce emphasized the candidate’s frustration at the timing. “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,” she said.
Peltola entered the final stretch of the race holding a narrow lead. The latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate showed her 1.2 percentage points ahead of incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. Cook Political Report has tagged Alaska’s Senate contest as one of seven toss-up races that could determine which party controls the chamber.
The former congresswoman served in the U.S. House from early 2023 through early 2025, making her bid for the Senate seat a continuation of her rapid rise in Alaska politics. Her “Alaska Always Tour” was designed as a closing argument to voters across the state.
The race has already been marked by unusual turbulence. Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, a Republican candidate critics have labeled “Decoy Dan,” has drawn scrutiny for sharing a near-identical name with the sitting senator. The Justice Department sued last week to block certification of the Senate race if the incumbent Sullivan loses, citing the confusion created by the ballot names.
“Decoy Dan” has admitted voting for Democrats in recent presidential elections, attended a “No Kings” rally, and engaged in other left-leaning political activity despite his Republican registration.
Peltola’s team has not specified when the rescheduled tour stops will occur or whether the candidate will appear at any events before the postponed dates. The collision adds a physical setback to a campaign already navigating legal challenges and an opponent with a borrowed name.
The Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet, where Peltola was headed when the crash happened, stands as one of the state’s premier political gatherings. Missing the event deprives a candidate of a key platform to reach Alaska Native voters, a constituency that has been central to Peltola’s coalition.
Bruce’s statement offered no details on which family members were in the vehicle or the precise nature of their injuries, beyond the characterization of them as minor. The campaign also did not identify the other driver or indicate whether authorities were investigating the collision.
The “Decoy Dan” controversy has shadowed the race since the primary. The retired teacher’s candidacy has prompted accusations that he entered the race to siphon votes from the incumbent Republican, though he has denied acting as a spoiler. His Democratic voting history and progressive rally attendance have fueled skepticism about his Republican affiliation among conservatives.
Peltola’s campaign now faces the challenge of compressing an eight-day tour into a shortened window while the candidate recovers. With Nov. 3 approaching, each day of lost visibility carries heightened stakes in a contest separated by little more than a single percentage point.