Alaska Senate Candidate Mary Peltola Faces Allegations of Staff Mistreatment

Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola is facing allegations from former aides detailing a pattern of alleged anger, use of offensive slurs, profane text messages, and a physical altercation with a staffer. Her campaign disputes these claims, stating that some behavior occurred during what it described as the "hardest period of her life" following the deaths of her mother and husband within months of each other in 2023.

Peltola's campaign spokesman told The New York Times, which first reported the allegations, that Peltola was parenting children through their own grief, serving full-time in the U.S. House of Representatives, and running a competitive re-election campaign during that time. "Exaggerating and outright lying about moments from the hardest period of her life, and falsely presenting them as a pattern of behavior, is wrong," the spokesman said.

The New York Times report detailed that the atmosphere in Peltola's congressional office allegedly caused aides distress, leading to discussions about quitting, weight loss, and seeking therapy. Some staffers who reportedly complained about working conditions in her congressional office later returned to work for her Senate campaign. The report also described anxiety and exhaustion among staff on her 2024 Senate campaign.

While the campaign acknowledges Peltola may have struggled with grief, it asserts she treats her staff with respect and maintains positive relationships. Some commentators have expressed sympathy for Peltola, citing the extreme personal difficulties she faced. Pollster Nate Silver suggested that most people would be sympathetic, and a Democratic communications staffer noted that being yelled at by a boss is common on Capitol Hill. Libertarian writer Robby Soave questioned the severity of asking a staffer to feed her pet chameleon.

Conversely, Republicans criticized Peltola's alleged behavior. Nick Poche, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, stated that Peltola "has a problem with violence and aggression" and should apologize. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz commented on X, formerly Twitter, suggesting the allegations indicated Peltola's "unhinged behavior."

Peltola is currently in a competitive race against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan for one of the most closely watched Senate elections this cycle. Alaska, traditionally a Republican stronghold, has become a more contested state due to shifting voter preferences and Peltola's appeal.

Peltola's campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Thursday. She also reportedly avoided reporters' questions about the allegations after a town hall on Wednesday.