Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola of Alaska is facing serious accusations from former staffers who claim she used a racial slur following an October 2024 dinner event honoring nearly 4,000 Black soldiers. Peltola, 53, is currently challenging incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in a high-stakes race expected to influence the balance of power on Capitol Hill.
According to reports originating from the regional outlet Alaska Landmine and cited by former aides, the alleged outburst followed a banquet honoring Black military service members. Federal Election Commission records indicate Peltola’s campaign spent $8,000 on tables for the event after Ed Wesley, a Black Army veteran and former president of the Anchorage NAACP who promoted the dinner, reportedly assured the campaign that the tables would be occupied.
When those seats went largely unfilled, an unnamed former staffer alleged that Peltola reacted with fury. According to the staffer, Peltola stated, “I can’t believe that n—-r,” and repeatedly labeled Wesley a “scammer.”
Peltola’s campaign issued a flat denial regarding the allegation, characterizing the claim as part of a politically motivated smear campaign orchestrated by an unstable and disgruntled former employee who was terminated from their position. A campaign spokesperson stated that Mary Peltola would never use such terminology, describing the expression as a vile slur carrying a painful and hateful history.
The allegation regarding the racial slur follows separate claims made by former aides alleging that Peltola was prone to angry outbursts, utilized other offensive terms such as “retard” and a homophobic slur, and once shoved a male employee.
The political controversy emerges as Peltola campaigns for the U.S. Senate in a closely watched contest for the 2026 midterms. National Democrats view recruiting Peltola as a major coup in their efforts to flip the upper chamber of Congress. Peltola previously served in the House of Representatives from 2022 to 2025, during which time she lobbied the Biden administration in support of Arctic drilling and championed the approval of ConocoPhillips’ controversial $8 billion Willow Project. She also drew national attention during her 2024 House tenure as the sole Democrat endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her political and fundraising support behind Peltola in January, urging her supporters to contribute to the Alaska candidate’s campaign. Representatives for Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to requests for comment regarding the recent allegations.
While Peltola has previously won statewide elections in Alaska and is regarded by strategists as a competitive contender, recent polling indicates an exceptionally tight contest, with surveys placing her ahead of her incumbent opponent by just two percentage points.
