Alaska Senate Candidate Mary Peltola Delays Ending Campaign After Car Accident | Alaska

Mary Peltola, a Democrat running for Alaska’s only U.S. Senate seat, and her family were slightly injured in a car crash while on their way to a campaign stop Saturday, her campaign said.

The family was on their way to the annual Alaska Federation of Natives banquet when another vehicle crashed into the one carrying Peltola and his family, his campaign said in a statement Sunday. Peltola required medical attention following the collision.

“Mary and her family were slightly injured but are in good spirits,” Peltola campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said in a statement. “Unfortunately, per the advice of medical professionals, Mary’s upcoming events in Fairbanks and Bethel will be postponed until later in the week as she takes time to recover.”

Bruce added, “Mary is disappointed that the accident will delay the start of her Alaska Always tour, and she looks forward to returning to the campaign trail to speak directly with Alaskans about her plan to take on the rigged system and lower costs for working families.”

Police responded to a “multi-vehicle collision” Saturday around 6:55 p.m., according to the Anchorage Police Department. Peltola’s family and the occupant of a second vehicle were transported to a local hospital “with non-life-threatening injuries,” according to authorities, while the occupant of a third vehicle refused medical transport.

“The circumstances of the collision are under investigation,” a police statement said.

Peltola, an Alaska native and former congresswoman, is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, hoping to become the first Democrat in nearly two decades to represent the state in the Senate. Both candidates have attempted to rally support from Alaska Native voters, a key constituency in this high-stakes race that has become one of the most watched in the country.

On Friday, Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Sullivan loses. The lawsuit cites potential confusion with another Republican candidate listed on the ranked-choice ballot as Daniel J Sullivan Jr, who is a retired teacher.

The Peltola incident delayed what his campaign billed as the “Alaska Always Tour,” an eight-stop tour in the final week before Election Day. Her campaign said she would resume events Tuesday, with a stop in Homer, Alaska.