Overview:
Mary Peltola and her family sustained minor injuries in a vehicle accident Saturday night, prompting her U.S. Senate campaign to reschedule events in Fairbanks and Bethel while other stops on her Alaska Always Tour remain on schedule.
Native Vote 2026
U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola (Yup’ik) and her family sustained minor injuries in a vehicle accident while traveling to the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Banquet, prompting the campaign to reschedule two upcoming events on her statewide campaign tour.
According to a statement released Sunday by Alaskans for Mary, the vehicle transporting Peltola and her family was struck by another driver Saturday night. The family sustained minor injuries and received medical attention.
Cheryl Bruce, campaign manager for Alaskans for Mary, said Peltola and her family were in good spirits following the accident.
“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,” Bruce said.
Peltola was scheduled to begin her eight-community “Alaska Always Tour” on Sunday, Oct. 25, ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. Senate election.
The campaign said events scheduled in Fairbanks on Sunday and Bethel on Monday, Oct. 26, would be rescheduled. Events in Homer, Kenai, Seward, Juneau, Anchorage and Palmer will continue as planned.
The campaign said it would release an updated schedule in the coming days.
Peltola, a former Alaska congresswoman, is seeking to return to Washington, D.C., as a U.S. senator. Her campaign said she has traveled to more than 50 Alaska communities since launching her campaign in January to hear directly from residents about their concerns and priorities.
Bruce said Peltola was disappointed that the accident would delay the start of her tour but remained eager to return to the campaign trail.
“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 said.
The campaign reported that nearly 17,500 Alaskans had signed up to support Peltola’s effort ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
