Democrat Mary Peltola, campaigning for Alaska's Senate seat, has faced scrutiny over reported expletive-ridden outbursts. Nine former staffers detailed instances of her anger in late September, according to The New York Times, with accusations including the use of derogatory language and profane tirades.
Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan has attempted to use these reported outbursts to his political advantage. However, Alaskans interviewed by the Daily Mail suggest her rough rhetoric is not a significant concern for voters. Some attribute her language to common parlance within the state's fishing communities.
Leaked text messages revealed Peltola's strong reaction to a commercial featuring a fisheries executive, where she used expletives and dismissive phrases. Her campaign acknowledged the language was inappropriate and stated she regretted it. The Times also reported claims from at least four staffers who alleged hearing her use a homophobic slur, which her campaign denied.
Sullivan reportedly brought a printout of the article detailing the outbursts to campaign events and called Peltola a "nut job" during a visit to Alaska. Despite these efforts, some polls released in October indicated Peltola holding a slight lead over Sullivan. Online prediction markets also favored Peltola's chances.
Supporters interviewed by the Daily Mail expressed understanding for Peltola's language. Don Rearden, a high school acquaintance, commented that many in various industries use similar language and that voters often give it a pass. Warren Richard Jones, a former US Marine, stated that while he didn't condone the R-word, he was familiar with such language and found her phrase "I nothing him" amusing. Erika Monahan, who intended to vote for Peltola, found the private remarks "not ideal" but stated the story did not alter her voting decision, expressing greater concern over Sullivan's political alignments.
Peltola's campaign has also attributed some of her struggles to grief following the deaths of her mother and husband within a four-month span in 2023. A spokesman told The Times that "Mary sometimes struggled to deal with her grief" while managing parenting, her congressional duties, and a re-election campaign.
The campaign also faced controversy regarding Peltola's response to criticism from Planned Parenthood over her vote on a bill with anti-abortion policies. Texts allegedly show her expressing extreme anger towards the organization and its board members. A rumor about Peltola using a racial slur, published by Alaska Landmine, was denied by her team as a "smear campaign."
Meanwhile, a separate saga involving a "decoy" candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent has drawn significant attention to the Alaska Senate race, potentially overshadowing the controversy surrounding Peltola's language. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report continues to rate the race as a toss-up.