Why more Native Americans are on U.S. ballots than ever before

Why more Native Americans are on U.S. ballots than ever before toggle caption Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images Voters in 25 states will have the opportunity to elect or reelect an Indigenous candidate to public office this year. toggle caption Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images “The most ground that we've gained has been at the state level,” said Elise Blasingame, an Osage Nation scholar in residence at the Advance Native Political Leadership, and an independent researcher at the University of Georgia focusing on the impact of Native representation on publicly elected offices. As sovereign nations with a traumatic history with the federal U.S. government, many indigenous voters opt out of engaging, she said, adding that “It's a dilemma that Native people have.” Sponsor Message Still, over the past few decades, legislative success in regards to gaming, lobbying, and other issues have proven how much representation matters. “We look for unifying causes that we can get behind and promote and educate the other legislators on issues that are important to the tribes and to Native American communities,” said Oklahoma GOP Rep. Ken Luttrell, who is running for the last time for his statehouse seat this November. toggle caption Mark Humphrey/AP In Tennessee, Rep. Bryan Terry, a member of the Choctaw Nation, is running for reelection – the only Native member in the state legislature enrolled in a tribe.