Indigenous candidates win majority of state legislature seats nationwide

Indigenous candidates secured victories in state legislature elections across 24 different states in the United States.

As of November 6, over 83 percent of Indigenous candidates in declared races won their seats. These candidates represent more than 122 different tribal nations and competed for various state legislative positions. In Vermont, Alanna Ojibway won her race to represent Vermont Windsor 6. She is believed to be the first Indigenous person elected to the Vermont General Assembly.

In Montana, 12 of the 13 Indigenous candidates won their races. These victories will bring the state’s American Indian Caucus to a record number of 14 members. Democrats won the majority of these seats, with 88 percent of the Indigenous state legislator-elects identifying as Democrats. In Arkansas, Jacob Allen defeated a Republican incumbent to flip his seat.

In Arizona, five Indigenous Democrats secured seats, contributing to a shift where the party is poised to control both chambers of the state legislature for the first time in 60 years. Some regions saw different results. In South Dakota, only 3 of the 10 Native candidates won their elections. In Iowa, Jessica Lopez-Walker lost her race to an incumbent. In Alaska, several races remain undeclared as the state waits for ranked-choice voting counts to conclude on November 18.