Peggy Flanagan is a nationally recognized leader and lifelong advocate for children, families, and Tribal communities. If elected, she would make history as the first Native woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. From becoming the youngest and first Native member of the Minneapolis School Board at 25 to serving as Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor, Flanagan has consistently expanded representation and delivered results. She has championed paid family and medical leave, free school meals, historic housing investments, and groundbreaking advances in Tribal–state relations—including MMIP prevention, land back efforts, and Native language revitalization. Re-elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2022, Flanagan is the highest-ranking Native woman currently serving in elected office nationwide. She has also represented District 46A in the Minnesota House of Representatives and served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Children’s Defense Fund, where she fought to end racial inequities for children and young adults.

Mary Kunesh is an educator, community leader, and longtime state legislator committed to strengthening Minnesota’s families and communities. A descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Kunesh served two terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives before being elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2020, where she currently serves as Assistant Majority Leader. Before serving in the legislature, Kunesh spent more than 25 years as a public school educator. During her time in office, she has championed investments in education, Native communities, and working families, including helping establish Minnesota’s groundbreaking Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Office. She was also a founding member of the Legislature’s Native American and People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) Caucuses. Kunesh is running for re-election to continue advancing policies that strengthen public education, support Tribal communities, and ensure Native voices are represented in state government.

Bill Hill is a lifelong Alaskan, educator, commercial fisherman, and small business owner with decades of experience serving communities across the state. A member of the Dena’ina Athabascan people, Hill has spent nearly 25 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, earning recognition as Alaska Superintendent of the Year in 2023. In addition to his career in education, Hill has worked in commercial fishing, rural construction, and manufacturing. He and his wife founded Bristol Bay Brailer, a small business supporting Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, and he has long been involved in labor and community advocacy. Based in Naknek, Hill is running for Congress to strengthen opportunities for working families, ensure rural and Alaska Native communities have a stronger voice in Washington, and protect the lands and waters that sustain Alaska’s way of life.

Jonathan Nez is a longtime public servant and former President of the Navajo Nation with a career dedicated to improving the lives of rural and Tribal communities. Born in Tuba City and raised in Shonto, Arizona, he brings deep experience in governance, infrastructure, and community-led leadership Nez began his public service at age 29 as Vice President of the Shonto Chapter. He went on to serve on the Navajo Nation Council, as a County Supervisor, and as Vice President of the Navajo Nation before being elected President in 2019. During his tenure, he led the Navajo Nation through the COVID-19 pandemic, securing critical resources for healthcare, housing, and infrastructure, and expanding access to clean water and electricity for underserved communities. A coalition builder with a focus on practical solutions, Nez is running for Congress to strengthen democracy, lower costs for working families, address the opioid crisis, and protect Arizona’s land, water, and future.

Clara Pratte (Navajo) grew up on the Navajo Nation in Tsé Si Ani, Arizona. Her family didn’t have electricity or running water until she was in middle school, which is one reason why she has dedicated her professional life to giving back to rural, tribal, and low-income communities. She is now running for the office that regulates utilities in Arizona. Pratte holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She is the Founder and CEO of Strongbow Strategies, a consulting firm that assists Tribes, governments, and businesses with technical, programmatic, and IT services. She also founded and served as the Executive Chair of Navajo Power, a public benefit corporation that develops clean energy projects on tribal lands.

Ian Teller (Navajo Nation) was raised in Tsaile, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation, in a family grounded in traditional teachings, language, and ceremony. His work is rooted in uplifting Native voices and expanding civic participation, particularly among young people, through education and community engagement. In 2024, Teller launched the When Natives Vote Youth Initiative in partnership with the Center for Native American Youth’s Democracy is Indigenous Program, increasing voter participation on the Navajo Nation through outreach and youth engagement. His leadership has been recognized by UNITY (United National Indian Tribal Youth). Teller is a digital creator who shares political education content with a Native audience and currently serves as a Development Officer at Diné College, supporting Navajo students and educational initiatives. He holds degrees from Fort Lewis College and the University of Southern California. Teller is running for the Arizona House of Representatives to expand representation and create opportunities for future generations across District 6.

Brian Garcia is an attorney, community advocate, and first-term Arizona state representative committed to expanding opportunity for working families. Born and raised in Arizona by parents from El Salvador and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Mexico, he was the first in his family to graduate from high school, college, graduate school, and law school. Before joining the Arizona Legislature, Garcia served as President and Vice President of the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board. During his first legislative term, he co-sponsored four bills signed into law, including legislation establishing Arizona’s Turquoise Alert system to help address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis. Garcia also serves on the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s Constitution Committee and the Board of Directors of the National Native American Bar Association. He is running for re-election to continue advancing policies that strengthen Arizona families, expand educational opportunity, and ensure all communities have a voice in state government.

Deb Haaland is a visionary leader in environmental stewardship, social justice, and public service. A 35th-generation New Mexican, she has dedicated her life to uplifting communities and fighting for working families. If elected, she would become the first Native American woman to serve as a state governor in U.S. history. As U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Haaland restored protections for sacred sites like Bears Ears, returned over 500,000 acres to Tribal trust, created the Missing and Murdered Unit within Bureau of Indian Affairs, and launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. In Congress, she distinguished herself as a powerful advocate for equity and sovereignty—co-sponsoring more bills than any other freshman legislator while championing women’s rights, climate action, voting rights, Native language preservation, and justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). A single mother who relied on programs like SNAP, Haaland’s lived experience drives her fight for economic justice—raising wages, expanding affordable housing, and creating better-paying jobs for working families.

Erin Farris-Olsen is an attorney, nonprofit leader, and former Brothertown Indian Nation Tribal Council member committed to building a fairer, more resilient Montana. With career experience spanning law, watershed health, rural development, and legal aid, Farris-Olsen has consistently championed Native communities and rural working families. A first-generation college graduate from Carroll College who went on to earn a J.D. from the University of Oregon, Farris-Olsen has led statewide legal services and nonprofit organizations, and most recently served as Communications Director for the Montana Senate before launching a consulting practice supporting Native-led and rural organizations. Her priorities include lowering housing costs, expanding childcare access, protecting workers’ rights, defending public lands, and ensuring a strong, independent judiciary that puts people ahead of special interests.

Calvin Sandoval is a union pipefitter, community advocate, and proud third-generation union member dedicated to strengthening opportunities for working families. Sandoval has spent more than two decades in the pipe trades and understands firsthand the challenges facing Nevada’s workers and communities. Sandoval has been active in Native community leadership, including serving on the board of the Las Vegas Indian Center. Throughout his career, he has championed good-paying jobs, worker protections, Tribal sovereignty, and stronger support for Native communities. Sandoval is running for the Nevada State Senate to bring the perspective of working families to Carson City while advancing practical solutions that strengthen Nevada’s economy, support Tribal communities, and expand opportunity for future generations.

Claudia Kauffman is a state legislator and longtime advocate for children, families, and Tribal communities. A member of the Nez Perce Tribe, Kauffman made history as the first Native American woman elected to the Washington State Senate and has dedicated her career to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities across South King County. Before returning to the Senate in 2022, Kauffman worked for decades as an Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and built a strong record of public service and community leadership. She and her husband have also fostered ten children, an experience that has informed her lifelong advocacy for foster youth, education, healthcare, and equitable access to opportunity. Today, she serves as Chair of the Senate Business, Trade, and Economic Development Committee and as a member of the Ways and Means Committee. Kauffman is running for re-election to continue strengthening Washington’s economy, supporting working families, and ensuring Tribal and local communities have a strong voice in state government.

Jacob Allen is a U.S. Army veteran, community leader, and emergency management professional committed to strengthening Arkansas families and communities. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Allen served for more than 20 years in the Arkansas National Guard, retiring as a Major in 2025, and has spent more than 15 years in leadership roles at Walmart, where he currently works in emergency management. Beyond his professional service, Allen is active in the Chickasaw Warrior Society, the Young Democrats of Arkansas Indigenous Caucus, and local Democratic organizations. He is also a youth baseball and softball coach, investing in the next generation both on and off the field. Allen is running for the Arkansas House to expand opportunity for working families, strengthen relationships between Tribal and state governments, and ensure every community has a voice in shaping its future.