Record number of Indigenous candidates in U.S. elections, says advocacy organization

This week's election in the United States saw a record number of Indigenous candidates, according to a U.S. organization that tracks Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian elected officials, but it says there's still a long way to go in representation.

Jordan James Harvill, national program director for Advance Native Political Leadership (ANPL), said there are about 520,000 offices nationally, from school boards all the way to president, and Indigenous people would need to occupy roughly about 17,000 of those seats in order to reach basic representational parity.

ANPL tracked 250 Indigenous candidates running in this election across 25 states at the federal, state, and local levels.

The majority, he said, were running at the local level, and overall, representation has increased 300 per cent since 2016.

"We are in a high moment in Indian country," said Harvill.

At the federal level, the representation is lower. He said only 27 people who self-identify as Native American have ever served in Congress, which comprises the House of Representatives and the Senate.This election saw nine Indigenous candidates running for the House of Representatives.  

Oklahoma incumbent Tom Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, won his congressional race. The Republican congressman is the longest-serving Native American in the House of Representatives.

He didn't respond to a request for comment.

"I am excited to congratulate President Trump and my Republican Senate colleagues on their huge victories! As we continue to watch House elections, I remain optimistic and am looking forward to a bright future for the American people," he posted on X Wednesday.

Another Oklahoma Republican incumbent, Josh Brecheen, who is Choctaw, also won his seat.

"Congratulations to President Trump on his resounding victory! The American people have spoken and over the next four years we must pursue policies that secure our border, grow our economy, and limit the growth of government," he posted on X.

Democrat incumbent Sharice Davids, who is Ho-Chunk, won her fourth term in Kansas's 3rd Congressional District

Some races are still too close to call. That's the case for Jonathan Nez, who is Navajo, in Arizona and Mary Peltola in Alaska. Peltola, who is Yup'ik, was the first Alaska Native elected last term. 

Nez thanked supporters online. 

"We are seeing historic turnouts from tribal communities," he posted on X Thursday.

"We brought out many in this election. Our work is still not done. We will await the final count of the ballots, which is still ongoing."

ANPL endorsed Kamala Harris, and Harvill expressed disappointment in the presidential election results.

"I think that there is a lot of work that we're going to have to do," Harvill said.

"This administration — the policies that it's going to be putting down — might be some of the hardest we have seen towards Native peoples in several decades."

However, he said representation is important to make an impact on Indigenous people's everyday lives.

"We've really had very little representation," he said.

"The majority of our local- and state-level elected leaders and even in Congress have no concept that even there is even Native people in their district… Just the presence of Native communities at the table means that our issues are changing."