For Immediate Release — November 1, 2024
New York, NY — The nation’s leading Native advocacy group, Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) partner to Native Organizers Alliance, endorsed nine Indigenous candidates throughout the country, as well as Jon Tester (MT-D). The organization previously announced its endorsement of Kamala Harris for the accomplishments made in her role as Vice President under the current administration
“Representation matters at all levels of government,” said Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), executive director of Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund. “The record number of Native candidates in recent elections have elevated issues that matter most to Native peoples. Their presence in the electoral arena has given other candidates insight to better understand our communities so they can also advocate for our people.”
Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund endorsements:
- Gabriella Cazares-Kelly (Tohono O’odham) – Incumbent, Arizona, Pima County Recorder
- Trish Carter-Goodheart (Nez Perce) – Idaho State House of Representatives, District 6
- Donovan Hawk (Crow, Lakota) – Incumbent, Montana State House of Representatives, District 72
- Angel Charley (Laguna, Zuni, Diné) – New Mexico State Senate, District 30
- Joseph Hernandez (Diné) – New Mexico State House of Representatives, District 4
- Red Dawn Foster (Oglala Sioux, Diné) – Incumbent, South Dakota State Senate District 27
- Mary Peltola (Yup’ik) – Incumbent, U.S. House of Representatives, Alaska’s At-Large Congressional District
- Jonathan Nez (Diné) – U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District
- Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) – Incumbent, U.S. House of Representatives, Kansas’s 3rd Congressional District
- Jon Tester – Incumbent, U.S. Senate, Montana
The Indigenous Futures Survey — the largest nationally representative survey led by Native peoples, for Native peoples — found that more than 80% of respondents plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election. The survey also found that respondents want leaders who support and uphold Tribal sovereignty, better protect Indigenous sacred places, and address economic disparities in Indian Country.
Native Organizers Alliance Action Fund recently began running social media ads that highlight the stark differences between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on issues of Tribal sovereignty and sacred sites protections.
“Native peoples are growing a strong, grassroots movement that influences policy and impacts elections,” said LeBlanc. “We are a force at the ballot box and in the halls of Congress. If elected officials ignore this reality, it is a huge political miscalculation.”
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