Native American leaders are highlighting the significance of their community’s demographic in the upcoming 2024 election. They are particularly focusing on the “tribal wall” states, which include Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan.
These states have a notable number of Indigenous voters, according to Stephen Roe Lewis, the governor of the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona.
On October 9th, Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, visited Arizona to convene with tribal leaders and discuss the potential outcomes if Kamala Harris emerges victorious in the upcoming presidential election.
According to the Tucson Sentinel, Lewis emphasized the significance of Indigenous voters in President Joe Biden’s closely-won triumph in Arizona in 2020.
According to Lewis, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan are states with significant tribal populations. He emphasizes that by exercising our right to vote, we can replicate the impact we had in Arizona during the 2020 elections and play a crucial role in electing the next president and vice president of the United States in other parts of the country.
The United States is home to approximately 4.7 million eligible Native American voters, with a significant concentration in several highly contested states this year.
For instance, in Arizona, where the margin of victory was less than 11,000 votes in 2020, there are over 319,000 Native American voters. Community leaders have been cautioning the candidates about the potential decisive impact of these votes.
During the event alongside Walz last Wednesday, Lewis expressed his support for the Democratic ticket, highlighting the significance of the Native vote. He acknowledged that Governor Walz recognizes this importance.
It is worth noting that Minnesota is also home to Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the highest-ranking Native American elected official in the country. If Walz becomes vice president, Flanagan would assume the position of governor.
According to Lewis, the tribal vote holds immense significance. He further emphasizes that Walz holds a deep respect for tribal nations and considers them equal partners. Lewis predicts an unprecedented partnership between Native groups and the upcoming administration.
In Arizona, the Democratic Party has strong support from the Native American population. In fact, in the 2020 elections, Biden won the Indigenous vote in the Grand Canyon State by an impressive 58-point margin, as reported by SplitTicket.
In Wisconsin, home to approximately 93,000 Native Americans, the Native vote was more evenly divided, with Biden securing a 3.8-point lead among this demographic.
It is important to mention that accurately counting the number of Native Americans in Wisconsin has been a challenge for the Census Bureau, and the group was reportedly undercounted by about five percent in the 2010 census.
In North Carolina, home to approximately 209,000 Native Americans, as per census data, the political allegiance of Indigenous voters has experienced a significant shift towards the Republican party in recent years.
During the 2012 elections, Native voters favored Barack Obama by a margin of nearly 21 points. However, this trend completely reversed by 2020, with Donald Trump emerging as the preferred candidate among this group, securing a lead of 28 points.
Throughout the history of the United States, Native peoples have encountered numerous challenges in their quest for full citizenship rights. These obstacles have stemmed from both explicit and implicit forms of discrimination, as well as a lack of sufficient investment in voting infrastructure within Native American communities.
Residents of the Duckwater reservation in Nevada faced a significant obstacle when it came to accessing a polling location. They had to travel a staggering 140 miles just to reach the nearest one.
This issue eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, highlighting the difficulties faced by Native American communities in exercising their right to vote.
Voting by mail is also problematic for these residents, as many of them do not have mail service at their home addresses and rely on shared post office boxes. Voter registration typically requires a fixed physical address, further complicating the situation.
During an interview on MSNBC in August, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Flanagan emphasized the importance of presidential campaigns not neglecting Native American voters, particularly in a closely contested election.
Flanagan emphasized the significance of the Native vote, stating that Native people are strategically positioned in swing states. She highlighted that their vote has the power to either make or break a campaign or election. Therefore, she warned against disregarding the Native community, as doing so would be a mistake.
