Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband killed in a plane crash in Alaska

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband, Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., has died in a plane crash in Alaska.

Her office confirmed she is returning stateside to be with her family.

Few details were available.

“He was one of those people who was uncomfortably good at everything,” Peltola’s chief of staff Anton McParland wrote in a statement.

“He had a wonderful sense of humor that brightened the darkest moments. He was definitely the cook of the family. And family was the most important thing to him. He was completely devoted to his parents, children, siblings, extended family – and he simply adored Mary.”

The moderate Democrat, 50, was elected in 2022 to succeed the late Republican Rep. Don Young in representing Alaska’s general district. Young died that year at the age of 88 on a flight home from DC to Alaska.

Eugene Peltola had been regional director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska, overseeing offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage. An Alaskan native, he served in local government and on boards of directors and ran two companies. From 2010 to 2012, he served as vice mayor and council member of Bethel, Alaska.

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