Peltola to reschedule Fairbanks, Bethel campaign stops after car crash

Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) announced she would be rescheduling her campaign events in Fairbanks and Bethel, Alaska, following a car crash that resulted in minor injuries.

Her campaign reported the accident in a statement shared Sunday , writing that while Peltola was heading to her next campaign stop, the vehicle transporting her and her family was struck by another driver.

“Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits. Unfortunately, per the advice of medical professionals, Mary’s upcoming events in Fairbanks and Bethel will be rescheduled for later in the week as she takes time to recover,” wrote Peltola’s campaign manager Cheryl Bruce.

“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 continued.

The Fairbanks and Bethel events were scheduled for Oct. 25 and 26 but will be “promptly rescheduled in the coming days,” with Peltola’s campaign adding that she will begin campaigning again on Tuesday with a stop in Homer, Alaska .

The Anchorage Police Department (APD) reported a traffic collision involving Peltola on Saturday, writing that a vehicle hit Peltola’s car along with another car in the incident.

“The circumstances of the collision are under investigation,” said the APD.

The accident comes as Peltola faces off against Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) for a seat Democrats are hoping to flip this election cycle in the party’s bid to regain control of the upper chamber.

Decision Desk HQ, The Hill’s partner, predicted the race would go in Peltola’s favor, giving her a 61 percent of winning, while Sullivan has a 39 percent chance of winning as of Sunday afternoon.

In an effort to help Sullivan, President Trump recently rallied in Alaska and has weighed in on the contentious election numerous times.

He even pushed the Justice Department to preemptively sue if Sullivan lost, claiming the existence of a candidate with a similar name to Sullivan’s would make Peltola’s win invalid.

The move has created tension between the White House and GOP lawmakers as Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) criticized the president, writing on social media , “the Department of Justice should have never filed this lawsuit.”

Trump hit back on Truth Social Sunday, calling Murkowski a “DISGRACE to Alaska and our Country.”

The president has also been critical of Alaska’s ranked choice voting system which allowed both Sullivans to appear on November’s ballot. The two Sullivan’s will show up differently on the ballot, with the senator labeled “incumbent” and “Republican.”