Stunning allegations have surfaced against Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola, currently embroiled in a critical Senate race, with two former staffers claiming she repeatedly used a horrific racial slur in 2024. The accusations, detailed in a report by the Alaska Landmine, paint a troubling picture of a public official’s private conduct.
Both former aides, who worked for Peltola in her House office and on her campaign, spoke anonymously to the Landmine, citing fears of professional retaliation. Their accounts describe separate, disturbing episodes from earlier this year.
One instance allegedly occurred after an October 25, 2024 dinner. The event honored approximately 4,000 African American soldiers who played a vital role in building the Alaska-Canada Highway during World War II. It was promoted by Ed Wesley, a respected Army veteran and former president of the Anchorage NAACP.
According to a former aide, Wesley had pressured Peltola’s campaign to purchase tables, promising to fill them. The campaign reportedly bought eight tables at $1,000 each – an $8,000 expense confirmed by an October 18, 2024 FEC filing to Eventbrite. Yet, the tables remained largely empty, and Peltola herself did not attend.
Upon learning of the dismal turnout, Peltola allegedly became furious. The staffer claims she denounced Wesley as a "scammer."
“I can’t believe that n****r,” Peltola allegedly exclaimed, according to the aide. This same staffer revealed they had grown “numb” to such language, alleging Peltola had previously used the derogatory slur “faggot” when referring to gay staffers.
A second former staffer corroborated a pattern of disturbing language, alleging Peltola used the n-word multiple times during a spring 2024 campaign meeting. This reportedly happened while staff were discussing opposition research, which had uncovered that her son, Job Nelson, ran a YouTube channel featuring self-produced rap music with frequent use of the same racial epithet. The channel was later deleted, say the staffers.
“It shocked everyone in the room,” the second staffer stated, explaining that no one dared confront Peltola out of fear.
These explosive allegations emerge just weeks after a separate New York Times report detailed a pattern of angry outbursts, a physical shove, and various slurs attributed to Peltola throughout her time in office. The picture painted is one of a leader whose public persona sharply contrasts with her alleged private conduct.
The timing of these claims could not be more critical for Peltola, who is challenging Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in a closely watched race that could ultimately determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Peltola’s campaign initially did not respond to the Landmine’s inquiries before publication but later issued a denial, dismissing the report as “an outright lie published by a right-wing gossip blogger.” They added, “Mary would never use this word, which is a vile slur with a painful, hateful history.” This response, however, does little to address the detailed, consistent accounts from multiple former aides, underscoring a desperate attempt to discredit the messengers rather than confront the serious allegations.
In an era where accountability is paramount and political leaders are expected to uphold basic decency, these allegations against Mary Peltola expose a profound hypocrisy. For a Democrat to allegedly wield such hateful language, particularly against the very groups they claim to champion, raises serious questions about her character and fitness for public office. Americans deserve leaders who embody respect and integrity, not those accused of using vile slurs and then attempting to silence those who speak out. The fight for common sense and American values continues, and voters in Alaska now face a clear choice about the kind of representation they truly want in Washington.
