Elected Native leaders rising

This report reviews the Native candidates who ran for office in 2022, unpacking data across gender, identity, party affiliation, and year-over-year growth in Native elected officials.

Our ancestors risked their lives in the hope that one day we would have the power to shape the agenda for our own future.

– Anathea Chino (Acoma Pueblo), Advance Co-Founder and Executive Director

Key takeaways

2022 was a record-breaking year for Native representation at every level of government. At least 161 Native candidates, representing 22 states and 71 Tribes across the nation, ran for office in 2022 – the highest number of any election in history.

Why it matters

Native voters are a powerful voting bloc. We have shaped election after election in some of the most critical races of our time – either through our presence or absence. When Indigenous people are not represented in public office, decisions that directly impact our lives, our sovereignty, and our lands are made without us.

Publish Date: June 2023