FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/23/2024
ADVANCE NATIVE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ACTION FUND
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Cole
rebecca@spry-communications.com
303-704-3009
Advance Native Political Leadership Announces Endorsement of Harris-Walz Ticket
Vice President Kamala Harris’s selection of MN Gov. Tim Walz as running mate demonstrates commitment to Native peoples and communities.
WASHINGTON, D.C.; September 23, 2024 – Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund (Advance), the first and only national Native-led organization working to build a complete ecosystem approach to political power building in Native communities, today announced its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to serve as the next president and vice president of the United States.
This is the first-ever endorsement of any non-Indigenous candidate for office by Advance’s Action Fund, the organization’s 501(c)4 project helping to elect Native leaders at all levels of public office.
“While this isn’t the first time a national ticket has shown an understanding of and commitment to Native peoples, this moment represents a historic shift with a deeper investment in elevating Native leaders and communities,” said Anathea Chino (Acoma Pueblo), Co-Founder and Executive Director of Advance. “Gov. Walz’s partnership with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Ojibwe) and legislative record in Minnesota is proof he is committed to the unique status of Tribal Nations and our right to existence, self-governance, and self-determination. His inclusion on the presidential ticket is a game changer.”
Commitment to change for Native communities and beyond
Since their election in 2018, Walz and Flanagan, a co-founder of Advance, have established a significant legislative record of greater opportunities and support for Native communities, including:
- Requiring state agencies to create and implement tribal consultation policies to guide interactions with Minnesota tribal nations.
- Affirming tribal sovereignty by requiring agencies to appoint tribal-state liaisons and mandating state agency leaders and employees to attend tribal-state relations training.
- A new Minnesota state flag and seal that explicitly removes racist Native imagery and includes the Dakota name for the state, “Mni Sota Makoce.”
- Educating teachers when renewing their license and providing professional development related to the cultural heritage and contemporary contributions of Native Americans.
- The return of Upper Sioux State park to the Sioux community.
In addition, Walz and Flanagan were the first state executive leaders to visit all 11 Native nations sharing geography with the state of Minnesota.
Walz and Flanagan’s record of improving health and well-being in underserved and marginalized communities across the state goes beyond Native communities. During their tenure, Walz has signed bills increasing access to both early childhood and higher education; expanding school food programs, regardless of income; a more robust paid family and medical leave program with up to 20 weeks of leave in a single year; and mandating that 100% of Minnesota’s energy must come from carbon-free sources by 2040. Walz also signed into law a one billion dollar spending package to increase affordable housing, prevent homelessness, expand homeownership opportunities, and provide rental assistance to thousands of households.
The route to the presidency runs through Indian Country
This election season, the Native vote could be the deciding factor in a Harris-Walz victory in several key battleground states, including Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin. In 2020, Native American voters helped elect President Biden in each of these states, demonstrating the impact that Native voters can have in very tight races where their population is greater than the margin of victory.
A joint survey of 1,000 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people ages 18 and older across the U.S. conducted in May and June 2024 by Advance’s research and data arm, in partnership with Lake Research Partners and Two Feathers Consulting, found that 79% said they would almost certainly or probably vote in the November election.
So far this year, Advance has endorsed 42 Native leaders running for federal, state, and local offices across 13 states in 2024, representing its largest endorsement slate ever. This election season, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are making history like never before with 226 candidates running in 25 states. And, while 348 Native Americans currently hold elected office in the United States, more than 17,000 are needed to reach representational parity in elected office based on population. To view the full list of Advance’s 2024 candidate endorsements to date, visit www.advancenativepl.org/2024-endorsements.
“This is a historic opportunity for Native peoples to participate in an election that can bring about a better Indigenous future, one that offers greater opportunities, visibility, and support for Native communities. A vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is a vote for Peggy Flanagan to become the nation’s first Native woman governor, which could set a powerful precedent for Native representation in Minnesota and across the country. Her leadership would further elevate the concerns of Native communities, creating more opportunities for Indigenous voices to influence policy at the highest levels,” says Chino. “It is proof that inviting movement leaders and activists from all walks of life into the halls of power to develop shared strategy ensures we all win together.”
About Advance Native Political Leadership
Advance Native Political Leadership (Advance) is the first and only national Native-led organization working to build a complete ecosystem approach to power building in Native communities, providing leadership recruitment and support, civic engagement, data and research, and national coordination.
Advance Native Political Leadership Action Fund is Advance’s 501(c)(4) project, and is fiscally sponsored by Tides Advocacy. The Endorsement Committee is made up of Native leaders who represent the breadth of political power in Indian Country. It is chaired by Advance Co-Founders Anathea Chino (Acoma Pueblo) and Chrissie Castro (Diné and Chicana) and includes members Holly Cook Macarro (Red Lake Band of Ojibwe), Laurie Weahkee (Diné, Cochiti and Zuni Pueblo), Alyssa Macy (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon), and Jennifer Van der Heide. Endorsement Committee member Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Ojibwe) abstained from Advance’s endorsement of Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.
Visit www.advancenativepl.org to learn more about Advance and its full endorsement slate of candidates.