Former aides are accusing Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola of angry outbursts, offensive slurs, profane texts and even shoving a staffer. Her campaign disputes several of the allegations.
The New York Times report cites nine former staffers. Some described an atmosphere that drove aides to tears, prompted discussions about quitting and caused some to seek therapy or lose weight from the stress.
Peltola's campaign points to what it calls the hardest period of her life. Her mother and husband died within months of each other in 2023 while she was serving in Congress, raising her children and campaigning.
Her spokesman said Peltola sometimes struggled with her grief, but accused former aides of exaggerating or lying and falsely portraying isolated incidents as a pattern.
But some of the alleged incidents reportedly happened more recently, including during her 2026 Senate campaign.
And yes, former staffers even complained about having to feed live crickets to Peltola's pet chameleon, Meatball.
Peltola left a Wednesday town hall without answering reporters' questions about the allegations.
She is challenging Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan for his U.S. Senate seat in Alaska.
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