Native American Representation Increases in a Historic Election

U.S. voters sent a record number of Native Americans to Congress during the 2018 midterm elections. Making this an even more historic moment, two of them will be the first Native American women to ever walk the halls of Congress as a U.S. representative.

Sharice Davids, a member of Ho-Chunk Nation, defeated a Republican incumbent to represent Kansas’ 3rd district in the 116th Congress. “It doesn’t matter if you cast your vote for me or if you cast your vote for Kevin Yoder. Come January, I see every single person,” said Davids. “I hear you and I see you, because the time for people to not be heard, and not be seen and not be listened to, or represented well, changes now.

In New Mexico, Deb Haaland, a member of Pueblo of Laguna, beat her challenger for New Mexico’s 1st district. “Congress has never heard a voice like mine, but when the 116th session of the United States House of Representatives convenes on January 3, 2019, it will,” said Haaland after her victory. “It will hear my voice. It will hear your voice. It will hear all of our voices.”

Together, Davids and Haaland will be the first Native American women ever to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Davids and Haaland will be joining the only two Native American congressional incumbents, both of whom won their reelection bids.

Representatives Tom Cole, a member of Chickasaw Nation, defended his seat, representing Oklahoma’s 4th district, along with Markwayne Mullin, a member of Cherokee Nation, who will be representing Oklahoma’s 2nd district.