Indigenous Candidates Run for Congress and State Office on Nov. 3

Twenty-seven candidates appear in IND's developing list for the Nov. 3 U.S. general election: nine running for federal office and 18 for state office. The races include three U.S. Senate seats, the governorship of New Mexico and Oklahoma's lieutenant governorship.

This is IND's researched list of candidates who describe their Indigenous identity or family connections in their own public materials, and each entry uses their wording. It is not a national total; IND will add candidates as they are confirmed.

Candidates are grouped by office, federal races first. Campaign priorities describe the candidates' own positions; they are not endorsements.

U.S. Senate

Mary Peltola

Yup'ik. Democratic; challenger; former U.S. representative. U.S. Senate, Alaska — Statewide. Peltola challenges Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska's ranked-choice election. Republican Gerald Heikes and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who is undeclared, are also on the ballot. Fisheries and rural costs feature prominently in her campaign.

Website: marypeltola.com

Peggy Flanagan

Ojibwe; a member of the White Earth Nation. Democratic-Farmer-Labor; candidate for the open seat; lieutenant governor. U.S. Senate, Minnesota — Statewide. Flanagan seeks the seat held by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Republican Michele Tafoya, Libertarian Rebecca Whiting and independent Marisa Simonetti are also on the ballot.

Website: peggyflanagan.com

N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas

Chickasaw citizen. Democratic; candidate for the open seat. U.S. Senate, Oklahoma — Statewide. Thomas faces Republican Kevin Hern, Libertarian Sevier White and independents Ron Meinhardt and Curtis Stinnett. Her campaign emphasizes healthcare and Native sovereignty.

Website: jasmineforok.com

U.S. House

Bill Hill

Dena'ina Athabascan. Nonpartisan; challenger. U.S. House, Alaska — At-Large. Hill challenges Republican Rep. Nick Begich in Alaska's ranked-choice House election. Democrat Eric Hafner and Libertarian Jim McDermott are also on the ballot. His campaign focuses on working families and rural Alaska.

Website: billhillforalaskans.com

Jonathan Nez

Navajo. Democratic; challenger; former Navajo Nation president. U.S. House, Arizona — District 2. Nez challenges Republican Rep. Eli Crane; Libertarian Curtis Goodwin is also on the ballot. His campaign focuses on lowering costs and investing in Arizona's water systems, roads and bridges.

Website: jonathannezforaz.com

Sharice Davids

Enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin. Democratic; incumbent. U.S. House, Kansas — District 3. Davids seeks reelection against Republican Eric Jenkins and Libertarian Steven A. Hohe.

Website: davids.house.gov

Josh Brecheen

Member of the Choctaw Nation. Republican; incumbent. U.S. House, Oklahoma — District 2. Brecheen faces Democrat Brandon Wade and independent Ronnie Hopkins.

Website: joshbrecheen.com

Tom Cole

Enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation. Republican; incumbent. U.S. House, Oklahoma — District 4. Cole faces Democrat Mitchell Jacob and independent Rocco Bonacci.

Website: cole.house.gov

Claire Valdez

Dual citizen of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Nation and the United States. Democratic and Working Families; candidate for the open seat; state assemblymember. U.S. House, New York — District 7. Valdez seeks the North Brooklyn and Western Queens seat held by retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez. Melvin Rivera, the Republican and Conservative candidate, and Priscilla Ghaznavi, of the Our Future line, are also on the ballot. Her campaign emphasizes workers and housing.

Website: clairevaldezforcongress.com

Governor

Deb Haaland

Member of the Pueblo of Laguna. Democratic; candidate for the open seat; former interior secretary. Governor, New Mexico — Statewide. Haaland and her running mate, Stephanie Garcia Richard, face Republican Gregg Hull and his running mate, David Gallegos. Her campaign highlights affordability and public services.

Website: debhaaland.com

Lieutenant Governor

T.W. Shannon

Chickasaw. Republican; candidate for the open seat. Lieutenant governor, Oklahoma — Statewide. Shannon faces Democrat Kelly Forbes. His campaign emphasizes economic growth, business and tourism.

Website: votetwshannon.com

State Legislatures and Other State Offices

Clara Pratte

Member of the Navajo Nation. Democratic; candidate for one of two seats. Corporation Commission, Arizona — Statewide. Pratte is campaigning on utility bills and energy infrastructure for Arizona's utility regulator. Democrat Jonathon Hill, Republicans Kevin Thompson, an incumbent, and Ralph Heap, and Green candidate Mike Cease are also running.

Website: claraforaz.com

Claudia Kauffman

Member of the Nez Perce Tribe. Democratic; incumbent. State Senate, Washington — District 47. Kauffman faces Republican Kristina Soltys. Her campaign emphasizes housing, transportation and family services.

Website: voteclaudiakauffman.com

Mary Kunesh

Lakota heritage. Democratic-Farmer-Labor; incumbent. State Senate, Minnesota — District 39. Kunesh faces Republican Pam Wolf and Green candidate Ngone Saliou Niang.

Website: marykunesh.com

Jamescita Peshlakai

Navajo. Democratic; candidate for the open seat; former state representative and senator. State Senate, Arizona — District 6. Peshlakai faces Republican Lloyd Johnson.

Website: trailblazers4az.net

Chris Stearns

Navajo. Democratic; incumbent. State House, Washington — District 47, Position 2. Stearns faces Republican Ted Cooke. His priorities include energy, jobs, civil rights and Tribal sovereignty.

Website: chris4wa.com

Maria Littlesun

Descendant of the Skokomish Tribe. Democratic; challenger. State House, Washington — District 35, Position 2. Littlesun challenges Republican Rep. Travis Couture. Her campaign focuses on care services, schools, housing and household costs.

Website: electmarialittlesun.com

Maxine Dibert

Koyukon Athabascan. Democratic; incumbent. State House, Alaska — District 31. Dibert faces Republican Aimée Moore and Libertarian Jonathan Powell-Mark in Fairbanks. Her campaign emphasizes public education and working families.

Website: maxinedibertforhouse.com

Trish Carter-Goodheart

Member of the Nez Perce Tribe. Democratic; candidate for the open seat. State House, Idaho — District 6, Seat A. Carter-Goodheart faces Republican Colton Bennett. Her campaign focuses on rural healthcare and early education.

Website: trishforidaho.com

Nellie Jimmie

Descendant of Yup'ik. Democratic; incumbent. State House, Alaska — District 38. Jimmie faces Democrat CJ McCormick, Republican Willy Keppel and nonpartisan candidate Joseph Amik.

Website: akleg.gov

Debra Lekanoff

Part Tlingit, part Aleut. Democratic; incumbent. State House, Washington — District 40, Position 1. Lekanoff faces Republican Cindy Carter.

Website: debralekanoff.com

Chelsea Dimas

Daughter of Indigenous immigrants from México (Nahua and Purépecha). Democratic; challenger. State House, Washington — District 14, Position 1. Dimas challenges Republican Rep. Gloria Mendoza. Her campaign emphasizes lower costs, affordable housing, workers' rights and school funding.

Website: chelseaforwa.com

Kim Harless

Indigenous Ópata. Democratic; candidate for the open seat. State House, Washington — District 49, Position 1. Harless, a Vancouver city councilmember, faces Republican Sarah Mittelman.

Website: votekimharless.com

Michelle Paulene Abeyta

Member of the Navajo Nation. Democratic; incumbent. State House, New Mexico — District 69. Abeyta is running unopposed. Her campaign emphasizes infrastructure, healthcare, schools and child protection.

Website: abeytafornm.com

Derrick Lente

Son of Isleta and Sandia Pueblos. Democratic; incumbent. State House, New Mexico — District 65. Lente is running unopposed.

Website: derrickjlente.com

Brian Garcia

Member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Democratic; incumbent. State House, Arizona — District 8. Garcia seeks reelection in a district that elects two members. Fellow Democratic Rep. Janeen Connolly and Republican Donald Hawker are also running.

Website: briangarciaaz.com

Consuelo Redhorse

Member of the Navajo Nation. Democratic; candidate for the open seat. State House, Colorado — District 13. Redhorse faces Republican Miguel Martinez. Her campaign focuses on workforce housing, fully funded public schools and protecting water, wildlife habitat and public lands.

Website: voteredhorse.com

Election Day

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters should check their state or local election office for registration, ballot-return and polling information. Alaska's ranked-choice contests may require additional rounds of counting before a winner is determined.

Updated Oct. 27, 2026: This list now includes Consuelo Redhorse, a candidate for the Colorado House.