Native American and Indigenous Women for Office (2022)

Today for Indigenous People’s Day, I invite you to support some of the incredible Native American women running for office across the country. This slate includes candidates from U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS) and Mary Peltola (AK) to Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan* (MN) and State Senator Claudia Kauffman (WA).

This slate was developed with the input of advocates in states where these women are running, and also used the reporting of Indian Country Today to identify key promising races. This is not a comprehensive list – it is meant to target winnable races that are still in need of money before this November’s election.

I encourage you to select a few candidates and concentrate your donations – a larger donation to one to two campaigns is more meaningful than small donations spread across many.

More at gretchen.substack.com.

*Contributions to Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are made via the campaign of her running mate, Governor Tim Walz. 

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Congresswoman Sharice Davids

Office: US House (KS-03) 

Tribal Affiliation: Ho-Chunk

A member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Sharice Davids flipped this congressional seat from red to blue in 2018, becoming one of the first two Native American women ever to serve in Congress. Sharice spent her first terms in office working to strengthen public schools, lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, and make sure the government is working for the people — not special interests. The NRCC will spend millions of dollars this cycle in an attempt to reclaim this seat. Max contribution: $2900

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Congresswoman Mary Peltola

Office: US House (AK-01)

Tribal Affiliation: Yup'ik Eskimo

Mary Peltola has made history as the first Alaska Native and woman to represent Alaska in the House in an August 31st special election to fill the late Rep. Don Young’s seat. She will again face former AK Gov. Sarah Palin in a tough election battle in November. Max contribution: $2900

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Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan 

Office: Lt. Gov. of Minnesota 

(on the ticket with Gov. Tim Walz) 

Tribal Affiliation: White Earth Band of Ojibwe

Peggy Flanagan is Minnesota’s 50th Lieutenant Governor. A former State Representative, member of the Minneapolis Board of Education, and organizer with Wellstone Action, she and Gov. Tim Walz are seeking re-election to lead Minnesota for another four years. Max contribution:

$4,000 to the Walz/Flanagan ticket

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Rep. Christina Haswood 

Office: Kansas House (District 10)   

Tribal Affiliation: Navajo 

Christina Haswood has a public health background and is a lifelong district resident of District 10, which she represents in the Kansas House of Representatives. At age 28, Christina is amongst the younger members of the Kansas Legislature and is one of three Native Americans elected into the 2021-2022 Legislative session. Max contribution: $500

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Maxine Dibert

Office: Alaska House (District 31)  

Tribal Affiliation: Koyukon Athabascan

Maxine Dibert has been a public school teacher for more than twenty years and was inspired to run for public office after seeing firsthand what students and teachers needed from their government in order to thrive. A proud mother and Koyukon Athabascan, she is motivated to fight for families and communities like hers in the Alaska State House. Max contribution: $3,000

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Rep. Heather Keeler

Office: Minnesota House (District 4A) 

Tribal Affiliation: Yankton Sioux and Eastern Shoshone

Heather Keeler is the DFL member of the MN House of Representatives and is running for re-election to District 4A. She is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and worked in the tri-state region for 20 years to improve community healthcare, nonprofit projects, and education. Rep. Keeler is running for reelection to the MN House of Representatives. Max contribution: $1,000

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Rep. Barbara Bessette

Office: Montana House (District 24) 

Tribal Affiliation: Chippewa Cree

Barbara is enrolled Chippewa-Cree and was elected as one of the first Urban Native American women to the Montana House of Representatives in 2018.Barbara has served on the Cascade County DUI Task Force, Get Fit Great Falls, and the Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance. Barbara lives in Great Falls with her two horses and dogs. She is a barrel racer and wants to work on having more women represented in rodeo.After losing her State House seat in 2020, Barbara is running again to represent the people of Great Falls, MT. Max contribution: $400

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Rep. Rynalea Whiteman Pena

Office: Montana House (District 41) 

Tribal Affiliation: Northern Cheyenne 

Rynalea Whiteman Pena is serving her first term in the Montana House of Representatives. Whiteman Pena's career experience includes working as the transportation manager and tribal president of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. She is currently running for re-election. Max contribution: $400

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Shea Backus

Office: Nevada House (District 37) 

Tribal Affiliation: Cherokee Nation

Shea Backus is running again to represent District 37 in the Nevada State Assembly. Backus was a member of the Nevada State Assembly, representing District 37, from 2018-2020. Shea lost the 2020 race by less than 800 votes. 

A third-generation Nevadan, Shea practiced law with her father and is now a small business owner. Max

contribution: $5,000

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Charlotte Little

Office: New Mexico House (District 68) 

Tribal Affiliation: San Felipe Pueblo 

Charlotte Little has served her community as a small business owner, a Tribal Administrator, and an administrative officer for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Raised in San Felipe Pueblo, Charlotte is the daughter of a nurse and welder. Charlotte is dedicated to creating thousands of new jobs in clean industries and is committed to lowering the cost of living for families across the state. Max contribution: $5,000

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Ruth Buffalo

Office: North Dakota House (District 27) 

Tribal Affiliation: Hidatsa/Mandan and Chiricahua Apache

Ruth Buffalo is a public health professional, with a master’s degree in public health, management, and business, who has devoted her career to improving the health and lives of the public. She has served in the North Dakota State House since 2019 and is running for reelection for House District 27. She has the distinction of being the first Native American Democratic woman elected to the North Dakota Legislature.

Max contribution: Unlimited

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Collette Brown

Office: North Dakota Senate (District 15) 

Tribal Affiliation: Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe

Collette Brown is running for election to the North Dakota State Senate to represent District 15. After advancing in the Democratic primary on June 14, she is on the ballot in the general election on November 8, 2022. Max contribution: Unlimited

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Jayme Davis

Office: North Dakota House (District 9A)

Tribal Affiliation: Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa

Jayme Davis is running to represent District 9a in the North Dakota State House. She currently serves as the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Law, Policy, and Research Department Administrator and Policy Specialist. She has spent years working on behalf of the community, including time spent as a legislative staffer for Senator Kent Conrad in Washington D.C. where she helped create legislation in a variety of areas and was Senator Conrad’s liaison between federal agencies and Native Nations. Max contribution: Unlimited

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Red Dawn Foster

Office: South Dakota Senate (District 27) 

Tribal Affiliation: Oglala Lakota

Senator Red Dawn Foster, born on the Pine Ridge Reservation and a member of the Navajo and Oglala Lakota Nations, has been a champion in and outside the legislature for improved education standards, environmental stewardship, and justice for murdered and missing Indigenous people. Red Dawn brings tested leadership and passion for her community to the fight for better public education and expanded health care access. Senator Foster is running for reelection. Max

contribution: $1,000

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Peri Pourier

Office: South Dakota House (District 27) 

Tribal Affiliation: Oglala Lakota

Peri Pourier is a US Navy veteran and fierce advocate for South Dakota’s Indigenous communities. In the legislature, Peri has ensured that Indigenous people and culture are honored and respected while continuing to fight for improved health care throughout the state. Peri is running for reelection for House District 27. Max contribution: $1,000

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Claudia Kauffman

Office: Washington Senate (District 47) 

Tribal Affiliation: Nez Perce

Claudia served as the State Senator for WA’s 47th Legislative District from 2006 – 2010 and is running again to represent her old seat. She is currently the Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, working on legislative agenda, policy analysis, strategic leadership, and outreach to communities. Max contribution: $1,000

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Rep. Andi LeBeau

Office: Wyoming House (District 33) 

Tribal Affiliation: Northern Arapaho

Andi LeBeau is running for re-election for her WY State House legislative seat. This will be an incredibly close race, as Republicans now outnumber Democrats in House District 33. In 2020, Rep. LeBeau only won her seat by 96 votes. Max contribution: $1,500