Former Alaska Democratic Representative Mary Peltola has faced allegations of using offensive language and exhibiting aggressive behavior toward her staff, according to accounts from nine former aides cited by a recent report. Peltola, who served two and a half years in the U.S. House after winning a special election in 2022 to fill the late Rep. Don Young’s seat, is currently campaigning to unseat incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan in a closely watched Alaska Senate race.

The reported incidents include Peltola using derogatory terms such as “retard” and a homophobic slur, as well as an episode on February 7, 2024, when she is said to have pushed a male staff member on the chest after becoming frustrated over a missing document. The aide involved later left her team. February 7 was also the birthday of Peltola’s late husband, Eugene, who died in a plane crash in 2023.

Peltola’s campaign acknowledged the difficult personal circumstances she faced during that period, citing the recent loss of both her husband and mother. Harry Child, a spokesman for Peltola, emphasized that she was managing family grief amid her professional responsibilities, including parenting her children through their own bereavements.

“Mary sometimes struggled to deal with her grief,” Child said, adding that portraying these incidents as representative of her overall behavior is unfair and inaccurate. He described the accounts as mischaracterizations of a challenging time in her life, asserting that deliberately misrepresenting these moments is wrong.

The allegations have surfaced amid a competitive Senate race that could influence the balance of power in Congress. Both Peltola and Sullivan hold significant stakes in the election, with Peltola seeking to expand her political career and Sullivan aiming to retain his seat. The campaign dynamics and personal challenges faced by Peltola have attracted increased attention as the election approaches.