Six Native Americans Elected to Congress

Six Native Americans were Elected to the House of Representatives, a Record-Breaking Number.

According to Indian Country Today, a Total of 13 Native American Candidates were competing for House Seats this year. The Six Winners have set a Record. The Group is Split Evenly by Party, Three Democrats and Three Republicans.

Hawaii - Kaiali'i Kahele (D-1st District) Defeated his Republican Challenger Joe Akana. Kahele, who served as a State Senator in Hawaii, is of Native Hawaiian Ancestry and his Family comes from the Small Fishing Village of Miloli'i in South Kona.

Kansas - Representative Sharice Davids (D-3rd District) won Re-Election. She Defeated Amanda Adkins, becoming the only Democrat Representing Kansas in the House. Davids, who in 2018 became the First Native American congresswoman, is also One of the few Openly-Gay Women in Congress. She is a Member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

New Mexico - Congresswoman Debra Haaland (D-1st District) Won Re-Election. Yvette Herrell (R-2nd District) Won. Haaland is a Member of the Pueblo of Laguna who also has Jemez Pueblo Heritage. Herrell is a Member of the Cherokee Nation.

Oklahoma - Representative Tom Cole (R-4th District) and Markwayne Mullin (R-2nd District) Won Re-Election. Cole is a Member of the Chickasaw Nation. Cole is a Member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. Mullin is a Member of the Cherokee Nation.

In 2019, Cole and Haaland became Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus, which "seeks to educate members of Congress and encourage an open dialogue about issues affecting Native Americans," from a Press Release from Cole's Office. "As part of this mission, the caucus regularly convenes briefings, considers the impact of legislation on tribal nations and provides a forum for members of Congress to exchange information, ideas and research."

In 2016 only Four Member of Congress were Native American.










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