Native American Candidates Hit Record 355 in 2026 Races as 3 Women Chase Historic Top Offices

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 3

At least 355 Native American and Indigenous candidates have run or are running in 2026 local, state and federal primary and general elections — the highest total on record.
Three high-profile women could turn that surge into national firsts: Deb Haaland in New Mexico's governor's race, and Mary Peltola in Alaska and Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota in U.S. Senate contests.
No Native American woman has ever served as a governor or in the U.S. Senate, making those races a test of whether broader candidate representation can break long-standing barriers.

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Could next month's historic elections finally shatter the ultimate glass ceiling for Native American women in state and federal government?

How might this historic surge of Indigenous candidates in the November elections reshape national policies on tribal sovereignty?

With a record 355 Indigenous candidates on the upcoming ballots, what grassroots strategies sparked this unprecedented political mobilization?