Mary Peltola Postpones Campaign Stops After Three-Car Crash Sends Her to Hospital

Mary Peltola has had to delay part of her final campaign push after a three-car crash sent her and other occupants to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The Alaska Democrat was traveling with family toward Anchorage on October 24 to attend the Alaska Federation of Natives banquet when the collision occurred, according to her campaign. Anchorage police said Peltola’s vehicle was stopped at a red light when another vehicle struck it from behind, pushing it into a third vehicle. Medical professionals advised her to take time to recover, disrupting the start of her planned “Alaska Always Tour” in the closing stretch before Election Day. Her campaign had scheduled appearances in Fairbanks and Bethel for October 25 and 26. Those stops were postponed and were expected to be rescheduled later in the week. Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said Peltola was disappointed by the delay and eager to return to the trail to speak with Alaskans about her plans to lower costs for working families. Other events scheduled in Homer, Kenai, Seward, Juneau, Anchorage and Palmer were expected to go ahead as planned, according to the article. The crash came at a crucial point in a closely watched Senate contest, with Democrats hoping to take a seat held by Republicans. The Cook Political Report had shifted the race from “Lean Republican” to a toss-up earlier in the year. The ballot also features incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, along with challenger Dan J. Sullivan, a teacher who shares his name, and Gerald Heikes. Dan J. Sullivan, who first registered as a Republican, requested an absentee ballot under an “undeclared” affiliation and appears without a party label, according to the Alaska Beacon. Republicans have accused him of being a Democratic plant intended to confuse voters. Peltola’s campaign did not report serious injuries, but the medical advice to rest forced an interruption at a sensitive moment in the race. The article says her remaining scheduled events were expected to continue, while the postponed Fairbanks and Bethel appearances were to be rearranged.