Native candidate count surges

Indigenous candidates running in the 2026 midterm elections number nearly 400 percent more than in 2016. Indian Country Today’s national database, which has tracked these candidates since 2018, shows a steep increase in Indigenous participation across the country. The database was created in 2016 by former ICT editor Mark Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock, and has become a primary resource for tracking political representation.

Jordan James Harvill, Cherokee and Choctaw, and director of Advance Native Political Leadership, provided analysis on the current election cycle. Jessica Lopez Walker, a Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska candidate for the Iowa state legislature, emphasized the value of seeing Native faces in public office. Their comments underscore the growing visibility of Indigenous voices in state and federal races this year.

Despite the rise in candidates, access to voting remains difficult for many rural and reservation residents. Megan Gall, principal of Blockwell Consulting, reported that voter registration in these areas declined by 59 percent between 2020 and 2024. In contrast, registration dropped only 22 percent nationally during the same period. Gall noted that the system often fails to accommodate residents who lack standard mailing addresses, a common issue in remote communities.

In Alaska, Tristan Douville, a special projects manager for the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, stated that mail-in voting is essential for many villages. In-person polling places are not always available in small, remote locations. Wisconsin Native Vote, a nonprofit organization, is working to increase civic engagement among Indigenous voters statewide. Erica Ayisi, a correspondent for ICT and PBS Wisconsin, visited the Bad River Reservation in the Wisconsin Northwoods to discuss these efforts.

Community initiatives are also expanding beyond politics. Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation has welcomed fifty bison back to the Black Hills. Brandon Big Eagle, Lakota Land Systems Director, described the effort as a long-term project to heal the land. The Oglala Lakota view bison as relatives, and the land lease facilitates this restoration.

Cultural engagement continues to grow through digital platforms and local events. Desirae Desnomie, a Peepeekisis Cree content creator based in North Dakota, posts scary stories on her TikTok account every fall. At the Black Hills Powwow, outgoing Miss He Sapa Win Tyler Star Come Out honored traditional women dancers. Layne Knox, program manager for Healthy Start, connected with nursing mothers at the event to support child health initiatives.