Peggy Flanagan and Deb Haaland Become First Native American Women Elected to High Office

Peggy Flanagan and Deb Haaland achieved historic milestones in the midterm elections, becoming the first Native American women elected to the United States Senate and a state governorship, respectively.

Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and former Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, won the Senate seat vacated by retiring Democrat Tina Smith. She defeated Republican candidate Michele Tafoya to maintain the seat for the Democratic Party. Flanagan ran on a progressive platform that includes universal childcare, Medicare for All, and increasing the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour.

In New Mexico, Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, won the election to succeed term-limited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Her victory makes her the first Native American woman to serve as a governor in the United States.

Other Native American representation remains in flux in Alaska, where Democrat Mary Peltola is awaiting results in a close Senate race. Because Alaska utilizes a ranked-choice voting system, a final outcome for Peltola may take days or weeks to determine.