There are various Native issues and topics that lie ahead for Native candidates before Election Day on Nov. 8.
As the Native-themed mascots and names in sports have slowly decreased, the issue still remains prominent at the state level. Four Iowa Democrats have introduced a bill to end Native-themed mascots in schools by 2024 and New Hampshire delegates are reviewing a similar bill.
Student tribal regalia may also be in discussions with Native candidates. The 2022 Utah Legislature recently passed a bill allowing student tribal regalia in high school graduation ceremonies.
And redistricting may be a major factor for some candidates. Nearly 40 states have adopted redistricting proposals, according to Politico. Notably, it may be affecting Native candidates and constituents in Alaska, Kansas, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. And the federal government is stepping in over some other states’ redistricting changes.
Ruth Buffalo, vice chair on the executive committee of the National Caucus of Native American State Legislatures, said having Native American lawmakers is important because most understand the sovereignty of tribal nations.
“We provide a comprehensive lens in the legislative arena. Many of our issues, rural or urban, still impact the most vulnerable and those often overlooked.” she said. “Native American issues are human issues and if something is affecting the Native American population it is more than likely affecting the larger population eventually too.”
Buffalo, of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation, is a North Dakota representative and helped create the state’s Native American Caucus within North Dakota’s Democratic-NPL party.
She said Native American caucuses are needed because “they provide a stronger united voice.”
She added how state issues are Indigenous issues because Indigenous people have generations of ties to the land.
And there are a handful of Native candidates who are running for a new seat and many who are up for reelection. Note: it’s not confirmed if all incumbents are campaigning again.
ALASKA
Legislative session began Jan. 18 and is scheduled to end May 18.
Alaska legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: State recognition of tribes (passed in the House, now before Senate); training for law enforcement on government-to-government relationships with federally recognized tribes in the state; standard procedures for investigation of reports of missing Indigenous women; creating tribal liaison positions for law enforcement; state participation in tribal child welfare compacts.
- State House – Neal Foster. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Inupiaq.
- State House – Tiffany Zulkosky. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Yup’ik.
- State House – Bryce Edgmon. Independent. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Yup’ik.
- State House – Josiah Patkotak. Independent. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Inupiaq.
- State Senate- Lyman Hoffman. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Yup’ik.
ARIZONA
Legislative session began Jan. 10 and is scheduled to end May 13.
Arizona legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples. Some include: Urging the United States Board on Geographic names to rename the geographic features in the Grand Canyon with Native names; supporting the efforts of the U.S. government to protect and restore tribal homelands; investigation into former and current Indian boarding schools in Arizona by the Interior; implementing steps of due process rights for Indigenous-language-speaking immigrants in the United States.
- State House – Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 8, 2023. Diné.
- State House – Jennifer Jermaine. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. White Earth Ojibwe.
- State House – Myron Tsosie. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Diné.
- State House – Domingo DeGrazia. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Eastern Band of Cherokee. He announced he won’t seek reelection.
- State Senate – Sally Ann Gonzales. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9 , 2023. Pascua Yaqui.
- Justice of the Peace – Victoria Steele. Democrat. Seneca.
CALIFORNIA
Legislative session began Jan. 3 and is scheduled to end Aug. 31.
California legislators had several bills last year of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference; Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Month; the federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
“The California Legalize Sports Betting Initiative” may also appear on the ballot on Election Day. It would allow online or mobile sports wagering, including for tribes in the state. Signatures to appear on the ballot are due April 18.
- California State Assembly – James Ramos. Democrat. Term end date: Dec. 5, 2022. Serrano/Cahuilla
HAWAI’I
Legislative session began Jan. 19 and is scheduled to end on May 5.
The Native Hawaiian Affairs Caucus in the Hawai’i House of Representatives has put together a legislative package for the upcoming session including: To refocus the tourism industry to avoid over-tourism; make Hawai’ian culture a larger part of the tourism industry; allocate $10 million for repairs, renovation of the Bishop Museum, which honors the last descendant of the Kamehameha family; increase funding for management of native ecosystems; appropriate $1.7 million to combat a fungus that is killing ʻōhiʻa, a keystone tree species; exempt traditional wetland kalo (used to make poi) from standard water lease requirements.
Hawai’i legislators are also considering a bill that would transfer $638 million from public land trust revenues to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
- State House – Patrick Bronco. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State House – Ty Cullen. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State House – Daniel Holt. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State House – James Tokioka. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State House – Justin Woodson. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State Senate- Dru Mamo Kanuha. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State Senate – Jarrett K. Keohokalole. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State Senate – Michelle Kidani. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- State Senate – Lynn Pualani DeCoite. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Native Hawaiian.
- U.S. House – Kai Kahele. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Native Hawaiian.
KANSAS
Legislative session began Jan. 10 and is scheduled to end May 20.
Kansas legislators had several bills last year of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: the authorization of the attorney general to coordinate training for law enforcement agencies on missing and murdered Indigenous people and changing of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. Like many states, redistricting is key in the state as Republican legislators work to split two districts, making it harder for U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, Ho-Chunk, to win reelection. The decision could end up in the courts.
- State House – Stephanie Byers. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Chickasaw Nation.
- State House – Ponka-We Victors. Term end date. Jan. 9, 2023. Ponca Nation of Oklahoma and Tohono O’odham.
- State House – Christina Haswood. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Navajo.
- U.S. House – Sharice Davids. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Ho-Chunk Nation.
MAINE
Legislative session began Jan. 5 and is scheduled to end April 20.
Legislators had several bills last year of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: State recognition for the Kineo Band of Maliseet Indians; to extend the time limits for placing land in trust status under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement; to restore the Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe the authority to exercise jurisdiction under the Federal Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010.
- State House – Rena Newell. Non-voting tribal citizen, Passamaquoddy Tribe. Term end date: 2022.
MINNESOTA
Legislative session began Jan. 31 and is scheduled to end May 23.
Minnesota lawmakers have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: the expansion of funding to the Native American Community Clinic; increasing the percentage of Teachers of Color Act, which includes Native American teachers; eliminating Christopher Columbus Day state holiday, school observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day school and establishing Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a state holiday.
- State House – Jamie Becker-Finn. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe descent.
- State House – Heather Keeler. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Yankton Sioux and Eastern Shoshone.
- State House – Steve Green. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. White Earth Nation.
- State Senate – Mary Kunesh-Podein. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Standing Rock Sioux.
- Lt Gov. – Peggy Flanagan. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. White Earth Band of Ojibwe.
MONTANA
No regular session in even-numbered years.
Montana legislators had several bills last year of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: Allowing transfer of certain highway funding to tribes; to establish Indigenous People’s Day; to establish tribal computer programming boost scholarship program; to revise statutes to reflect federal recognition of Little Shell tribe.
- State House – Donovan Hawk. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Crow.
- State House – Rhonda Knudsen. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Turtle Mountain Chippewa.
- State House – Tyson Running Wolf. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Blackfeet.
- State House – Sharon Stewart-Peregoy. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Crow.
- State House – Rynalea Whiteman Pena. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Northern Cheyenne.
- State House – Frank Smith. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Assiniboine Sioux.
- State House – Marvin Weatherwax Jr. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Blackfeet.
- State House – Jonathan Windy Boy. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Chippewa Cree.
- State Senate – Shane Morigeau. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Confederated Salish Kootenai.
- State Senate – Susan Webber. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 2, 2023. Blackfeet Nation.
NEW MEXICO
Legislative session began Jan. 18 and is scheduled to end Feb. 17.
New Mexico legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: Requiring salary parity for people who hold Native American language and cultural certificates; the Indian Family Protection Act; creating the Native American web-based resource tool for Native American students; creating the position of missing Indigenous persons specialist within the office of the attorney general.
- State House – Georgene Louis. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Acoma Pueblo. She announced she is not seeking reelection.
- State House – Anthony Allison. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Navajo Nation.
- State House – Doreen Wonda Johnson. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Navajo Nation.
- State House – Derrick Lente. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Sandia & Isleta Pueblo.
- State House – Patricia Roybal Caballero. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 17, 2023. Piro Manso Tiwa.
- U.S. House – Yvette Herrell. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Cherokee Nation.
NORTH CAROLINA
Legislative session began May 18 and is scheduled to end June 30.
North Carolina legislators had several bills last year of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: An act to integrate education on black history and Native American history into the standard course of study and an act to establish the American Indian Heritage Commission and to appropriate funds for the operation of the commission. The state also has a Commission of Indian Affairs.
- State House – Charles Graham. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 1, 2023. Lumbee Tribe. He announced his candidacy for the U.S. House, representing North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District.
NORTH DAKOTA
No regular session in even-numbered years
North Dakota legislators had one bill passed last year of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state: requiring curriculum to be taught on Native American history for K-12 students.
- State House – Ruth Buffalo. Democrat. Term end date: Dec. 1, 2022. Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation and Chiricahua Apache.
- State House – Wayne Trottier. Republican. Term end date: Dec. 1, 2022. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe/ Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Not running
- State Senate – Richard Marcellais. Democrat. Term end date: Dec. 1, 2022. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
OKLAHOMA
Legislative session began Feb. 7 and is scheduled to end May 27.
Oklahoma legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: recreating and modifying membership of the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education and legalizing sports betting by amending sections of a bill which includes state-tribal gaming. The state also has the only Native governor, who is Cherokee.
U.S. House members are also seeking $308 million to help the tribes in the state meet the law enforcement and judiciary obligations. It is in result of the affirmation of their reservations by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v Oklahoma, which ruled the Muscogee reservation was never disestablished
- State House – Brad Boles – Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- State House – Hurchel (Trey) Caldwell. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Choctaw.
- State House – Scott Fetgatter. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Choctaw.
- State House – Avery Frix. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Choctaw.
- State House – Ken Luttrell. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- State House – Mark McBride. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Citizen Potawatomi.
- State House – Mike Osburn. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- State House – John Pfeiffer. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- State House – Ajay Pittman. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Seminole.
- State House – Dustin Roberts. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Choctaw.
- State House- Mark Vancuren. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- State House – Collin Walke. Democrat. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- State House – David Hardin. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 23, 2022. Cherokee Nation.
- U.S. House – Tom Cole. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Chickasaw Nation.
- U.S. House – Markwayne Mullin. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Cherokee Nation. He announced on Feb. 26 that he is running for U.S. Senate.
- Governor – Kevin Stitt. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Cherokee Nation.
OREGON
Legislative session began Feb. 2 and is scheduled to end March 7.
Oregon legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: directing the Department of Education to develop and implement statewide education for students who are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and to make federally recognized Native tribes in Oregon eligible for particular grants related to clean air shelters and smoke filtration systems
- State House – Tawna Sanchez. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Shoshone-Bannock, Ute & Carrizo.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Legislative session began Jan. 11 and is scheduled to end March 28.
South Dakota legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: directing the Indian Education Advisory Council to make an annual report to the Governor and the State-Tribal Relations Committee; designate the Dakota flute as the official Indigenous musical instrument of that state; make an appropriation for the Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Office, and to declare an emergency.
- State House – Shawn Bordeaux. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 10, 2023. Rosebud Sioux.
- State House – Peri Pourier. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 10, 2023. Oglala Lakota.
- State House – Tamara St. John. Republican. Term end date: Jan. 10, 2023. Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.
- State Senate – Troy Heinert. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 10, 2023. Rosebud Sioux.
- State Senate – Red Dawn Foster. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 10, 2023. Oglala Lakota.
- U.S. Senate candidate, 2022 – Bruce Whalen. Republican. Oglala Lakota.
TENNESSEE
Legislative session began Jan. 11 and is scheduled to end April 29.
Tennessee legislators have one bill of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state: recognizing a federally recognized tribe, residing on tribal trust lands within the state, for purposes of obtaining a gaming license from the National Indian Gaming Commission to conduct gaming operations on its tribal trust lands.
- State House – Bryan Terry. Republican. Term end date: Nov. 8, 2022. Choctaw.
UTAH
Legislative session began Jan. 18 and is scheduled to end March 4.
Utah legislators have one bill of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state: creating the Office of American Indian-Alaska Native Health and Family Services within the Department of Health and Human Services.
- State House – Angela Davis. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 1, 2023. Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes.
WASHINGTON
Legislative session began Jan. 10 and is scheduled to end March 10.
Washington legislators have one bill of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state: creating an endangered missing person advisory designation for missing Indigenous persons.
- State House – Debra Lekanoff. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 9, 2023. Tlingit/Aleut.
WYOMING
Legislative session will begin Feb. 14 and is scheduled to end March 11.
Wyoming legislators have several bills of importance to Indigenous peoples in the state. Some include: an act providing for state management of wild horses and burros with tribes and an act about absenteeism and truancy, which includes Native children being contacted by the district attorney, who may also initiate proceedings in the interest of the child if authorized to do so under state and federal law. If the child is living on the Wind River Indian Reservation the attendance officer shall notify the Wind River Tribal Court prosecutor and the tribal prosecutor may initiate proceedings pursuant to applicable tribal law and order codes.
- State House – Andi Clifford. Democrat. Term end date: Jan. 3, 2023. Northern Arapaho.
ICT reporters Kalle Benallie, Joaqlin Estus, and Carina Dominguez contributed to this report.
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