Native women secured historic victories in the Nov. 3 midterm elections, winning seats in Congress and the governor’s office in Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, and Kansas.
In Minnesota, Peggy Flanagan, a citizen of the White Earth Nation, became the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Senate. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor lieutenant governor defeated Republican Michele Tafoya to succeed Sen. Tina Smith. Her victory brings an Ojibwe voice to the Senate and marks a milestone for Native representation.
Deb Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, became the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history. The Democrat defeated Republican Greggory Hull in New Mexico. A former congresswoman and U.S. interior secretary, Haaland pledged to give tribal leaders opportunities to weigh in before state decisions are made.
Claire Valdez, a citizen of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, won New York’s 7th Congressional District, representing parts of Brooklyn and Queens. The Democratic state assemblymember and union organizer became New York’s first known Indigenous member of Congress.
In Kansas, Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids, Ho-Chunk, won a fifth term representing the 3rd Congressional District. First elected in 2018 alongside Haaland, Davids continues her service as Congress’s longest-serving Native woman.
Together, these victories expand Native women’s representation in federal and state government and offer Native youth powerful examples of leadership rooted in community and identity.
Sources
- ICT: “Peggy Flanagan makes history as first Native woman elected to U.S. Senate,” Amelia Schafer.
- ICT: “New Mexico elects first Native woman governor,” Kevin Abourezk, Pauly Denetclaw and Stewart Huntington.
- KTSM: “Claire Valdez of Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo elected as NY congresswoman,” Eliya Alvidrez.
- KCTV: “Sharice Davids wins reelection in Kansas’ U.S. House District 3 race,” Melaina Hesterlee.
