The final stretch of one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races hit an unexpected bump this weekend.
Mary Peltola, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska, suffered minor injuries when another vehicle struck the car she was riding in with her family on Saturday night, Oct. 24, 2026, her campaign said.
What happened to Mary Peltola?
Peltola, 53, was traveling as part of a tour of eight communities over seven days ahead of the Nov. 3 election when the crash happened, according to the campaign.
Her campaign manager said in a statement Sunday that Mary Peltola and her family suffered minor injuries but were in good spirits. No one was reported seriously hurt.
The campaign did not say where the crash occurred, who was driving or whether anyone in the other vehicle was hurt. It was not immediately clear whether police cited either driver. The campaign also did not identify which family members were in the car.
How will the crash affect Mary Peltola’s campaign?
On the advice of medical professionals, Peltola’s planned events in Fairbanks and Bethel will be moved to later in the week while she recovers, the campaign said. Fairbanks is one of the state’s largest cities, and Bethel is a regional hub in Southwest Alaska.
Her campaign manager said Peltola is disappointed to be off the campaign trail and looks forward to meeting Alaskans in person to explain how she plans to take on what she calls a rigged system and lower costs for working families.
With just over a week until Election Day, every campaign stop matters in a state as large as Alaska, where candidates often travel by small plane to reach remote communities. Rural turnout can be decisive in close Alaska elections.
Who is Mary Peltola?
Mary Peltola is a former congresswoman who made history in 2022 as the first Alaska Native elected to Congress. She won a special election for the state’s lone House seat that year and served until early 2025 after losing her reelection bid in 2024. She defeated former Gov. Sarah Palin in that special election.
Peltola, who is Yup’ik, grew up in Southwest Alaska and has long called Bethel home. Her husband, Eugene Peltola Jr., died in a plane crash in 2023.
She has centered her Senate campaign on lowering costs for working families. She has also focused on fisheries, a major issue for many Alaska communities.
What is at stake in the Alaska Senate race?
Peltola is challenging Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in a race that could help determine control of the Senate. Polls have shown Peltola with a small lead, a rare position for a Democrat in Alaska. Sullivan has held the seat since 2015.
The race has also drawn national attention after the Justice Department sued state election officials, seeking to delay certification if Sullivan loses and votes for another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan could have changed the outcome. Peltola and Senate Democrats have asked a judge to dismiss that case. The department argues the second candidate could confuse voters, while Democrats call the suit an attempt to overturn a possible loss.
Two other candidates are on the ballot, and Alaska voters rank candidates in order of preference.
When will Mary Peltola return to the trail?
The campaign said the rescheduled events will take place later this week, though it did not give exact dates. Early voting is already underway across the state.
Supporters and rivals alike will be watching to see how quickly Mary Peltola can resume her schedule in the final days before the election. Her campaign said she is eager to return.
