Mary Peltola’s campaign for the U.S. Senate has been hit by a series of allegations from former staffers who describe angry outbursts, offensive language and a chaotic workplace inside the Alaska Democrat’s political operation.
The allegations were detailed in a September 23 report by New York Times reporter Kellen Browning. The report cited nine former staff members who spoke anonymously, saying they feared retaliation or damage to their professional reputations. Browning also interviewed more than 20 other people familiar with Peltola’s political career and reviewed more than 100 screenshots of text messages and other images.
The story comes as Peltola faces Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in one of the country’s closely watched Senate contests. Recent polling has shown the two candidates separated by only a few percentage points, underscoring the political stakes surrounding the controversy.
According to the Times report, former aides described a workplace where Peltola could become intensely angry and use profanity when dealing with staffers or discussing people who had frustrated her.
