Advance partnered with GrowProgress to survey 879 Native American and Alaska Native adults and better understand what Native Peoples believe about participation in the U.S. political system.

Together, we found a strong excitement about supporting Native leaders when they choose to run for office. The survey also examined how specific messages impact potential Native voters and to what extent these messages inspire participation in civic life, particularly in voting and supporting Native candidates.

The findings are clear: Native communities are ready for more Native leadership at every level of government.

Messaging impact

When respondents saw a message highlighting the work of former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo), enthusiasm for voting for Native candidates rose significantly — especially among Native women and independents. This shows the powerful role Native leaders play in inspiring civic participation in our communities.

Building on this momentum

The findings underscore an exciting truth: Native leadership inspires Native participation. Across the country, there is strong support for Indigenous leaders stepping into office and shaping policies that affect us all. For every Native leader thinking about running, this is confirmation that the time is now — our communities are eager for your leadership and vision.

Download the report for full details.