DORAL, Fla. – A congressional candidate from South Florida claims to have once flown aboard a spaceship.

Bettina Rodriguez Aguilera has announced her intention to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

But in a YouTube video released several years ago, Rodriguez Aguilera discusses how she was once on an alien spaceship.

She also claims that she was visited by extraterrestrials when she was a girl and communicated with them telepathically several times in her life.

Rodriguez Aguilera told Local 10 News that she felt attacked by the Miami Herald, which first reported her alien encounter.

"The Miami Herald article is clearly an attack piece," she said. "It ignores to mention I have dedicated over 40 years of my life as a business owner, teacher, economic developer, vice mayor and community advocate and instead emphasis in a negative way in an experience I had when I was 7 years old.

"Like the majority of Americans and scientists, I believe there is intelligent life in the billions of planets and galaxies in this universe. I will continue my work in the community, as I have done for over four decades, and focus on being a positive force to my fellow residents."

Rodriguez Aguilera also spoke briefly to Local 10 News reporter Carlos Suarez, but she would not elaborate on her extraterrestrial experiences outside of her statement.

"I'm just going to keep on focusing on the community and what I've done and what I'm doing, and everyone that knows me knows that that is what I am and that is what I will continue to be doing," she said.

When asked about her stance on the Affordable Care Act and U.S.-Cuba relations, the congressional candidate said she needs more time to take a position on the issues.

"I have to look more deeply into that," Rodriguez Aguilera said.

Rodriguez Aguilera previously served as vice mayor of Doral. The Republican is seeking to fill the seat being vacated by Ros-Lehtinen, who has served in Congress since 1989.