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State Sen. Anthony Kern suffered broken bones and other injuries in a single-car accident on an icy road in South Dakota on Saturday.
“He’s pretty banged up,” said Kim Quintero, communications director for the Arizona Senate Republicans.
Kern and the driver of the car he was riding in were taken by ambulance to area hospitals. Kern remained at a Rapid City hospital Sunday in stable condition and was expected to make a full recovery. Quintero said it is unknown when he will be discharged.
Kern was in South Dakota to visit with family. On Saturday, he was riding with a friend through a snowstorm when their car hit ice and the driver, who is not identified, lost control, Quintero said.
She added Kern was communicating with family and was thankful for the outpouring of support from Arizona
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced the accident on the social platform X and asked for prayers for Kern.
Kern’s sister Margaret Kern Trout confirmed on Facebook that her brother was in a “serious vehicle accident” over the weekend and asked for prayers.
Kern, R-Glendale, is finishing his first state Senate term. He previously served three terms in the state House. This fall, he opted to run for a congressional seat rather than seek a return to the state Capitol but lost the GOP race for Congressional District 8 to Abe Hamadeh.
Posts on social media by both Petersen and Arizona Senate Democrats wished a speedy recovery for Kern.
Kern is one of 11 people indicted in the “fake elector” scheme stemming from the 2020 presidential election in Arizona. Kern has vowed to fight the charges brought by Attorney General Kris Mayes.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @maryjpitzl.
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