‘Seismic shift’: Native American women made significant gains in US midterms

US midterm voters elected a record number of Native American women and non-binary candidates, including the first Native woman governor and senator. The results mark a major expansion of Indigenous representation in elected office and build on gains made over decades.

At least 75 Native women, non-binary and Two Spirit candidates won, according to Advance Native Political Leadership and ICT. Deb Haaland will become New Mexico governor, while Peggy Flanagan will enter the Senate; Crystalyne Curley and Tina Abrams will lead their tribal nations. A further 363 Indigenous candidates ran nationwide, with at least 180 winning; Mary Peltola’s Senate race in Alaska remains undecided.