Record Number of Native Representatives Elected to Congress

Record Number of Native Representatives Elected to Congress

November 13, 2020

November is Native American Heritage Month, in which we recognize and celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native people. We take this month to raise awareness of both the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the incredible achievements of the members of these communities.


There was also an election this month.


The 2020 election was historic for many reasons, not the least of which being that a record number of Native American and Native Hawaiian candidates were elected to serve in the U.S. Congress. This means the 117th Congress will have six Native Representatives, the largest cohort in American history.  (There are currently no Indigenous Senators; only four Native Americans have ever served in the U.S. Senate.)

 

Representative-Elect Yvette Herrell

Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.)


Yvette Herrell, a member of the Cherokee people, will be serving her first term as Representative for New Mexico’s 2nd District. Herrell’s win, alongside fellow New Mexico Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez (D) and Debra Haaland (D), makes New Mexico the first state to elect all women of color to the House. 

 

Representative-Elect Kaiali'i Kahele

Kaiali'i Kahele (D-Hawaii)


Kaiali’i “Kai” Kahele, a Native Hawaiian, will be serving his first term as Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd District. Kahele will be the second Native Hawaiian to serve in Congress since Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959.

 


Representative Debra Haaland

Debra Haaland (D-N.M.)


Debra Haaland, a member of the Laguna and Jemez Pueblo people, will be serving her second term representing New Mexico’s 1st District, after becoming one of the two first Native American women (along with Rep. Sharice Davids) to serve in Congress in 2018.

 

Representative Sharice Davids

Sharice Davids (D-Kan.)

Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk people, is one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress along with Rep. Debra Haaland. This will be Davids’ second term as Representative for Kansas’ 3rd District. Davids, a lesbian, is also the first openly LGBTQ+ person to represent Kansas in Congress.

 

Representative Markwayne Mullin

 

Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)

 

Markwayne Mullin, a member of the Cherokee people, will be serving his fifth term, having represented Oklahoma’s 2nd District since 2012. 

 

Representative Tom Cole


Tom Cole (R-Okla.)


Tom Cole, a member of the Chickasaw people, has been representing Oklahoma’s 4th District since 2002; this will be his tenth term in office.

 

 

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