List of Native American politicians
This is a list of Native American politicians in the United States. These are Native Americans who served in the federal, state, or municipal governments.
Native American identity is a complex and contested issue. The Bureau of Indian Affairs defines Native American as having American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry. Legally, being Native American is defined as being enrolled in a federally recognized tribe or Alaskan village. These entities establish their own membership rules, and they vary. Each must be understood independently. Ethnologically, factors such as culture, history, language, religion, and familial kinships can influence Native American identity.
All individuals on this list should have Native American ancestry. Historical figures might predate tribal enrollment practices and may be included based on reliable sources that document ethnological tribal membership. Any contemporary individuals should either be enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, or have cited Native American ancestry and be recognized as Native American by their respective tribes. Contemporary individuals who are not enrolled in a tribe but are documented as having tribal descent are listed as being "of descent" from a tribe.
For tribal leaders, please go to that tribe's article.
State offices
Kansas
Nebraska
South Carolina
Municipal offices
Alaska
Arizona
- Roberta Cano, Winslow Mayor
- Don Martin, member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors
California
- Tasha Cerda, Gardena Mayor, City Council
- Todd Gloria, San Diego Mayor, San Diego City Councilman, San Diego City Council President
- Mitch O'Farrell, Los Angeles City Councilman, President of the Los Angeles City Council
Idaho
- William (Bill) Weems, Plummer City Council Mayor
Illinois
- Anthony Tamez, Chicago Police District Council for District 17
Maine
- April Fournier, Portland, Maine Portland City Council At-Large
Minnesota
- Renee Van Nett, Duluth City Council
New Mexico
- April J. Silversmith, Navajo Democrat
- Carol Bowman Muskett, Navajo Democrat
- Genevieve Jackson, Navajo Democrat
- Harriet K. Becenti, Navajo Democrat
- Thommy Nelson, Navajo Democrat
- Felix Begay, Navajo Democrat
- Earnest Becenti, Navajo Democrat
- GloJean Todacheene, Navajo Democrat
North Carolina
- Reverend C.E. Locklear, 1897-1980, Lumbee), mayor of Pembroke, North Carolina
Oklahoma
- Susan Bayro, mayor of Pawhuska
- Brian Bingman, Sapulpa city councilor and mayor of Sapulpa, Oklahoma
- Thomas Buffington, mayor of Vinita, Oklahoma
- John Tyler Hammons, mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma, City Attorney of Checotah
- David Holt, mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Elias Landrum, Tahlequah, Oklahoma Alderman and Tahlequah Recorder
- Houston B. Teehee, Mayor of Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- Martin Tucker, mayor of Durant, Oklahoma
Utah
- Willie Grayeyes, Navajo Democrat
- Kenneth Maryboy, Navajo Democrat
- Robin Troxell, Hopi Tribe of Arizona
Washington
- Christopher Roberts, Shoreline City Council
- Roxanne Murphy, Bellingham City Council
- Debora Juarez, Seattle City Council
Wisconsin
- Wahsayah Whitebird, Ojibwe Communist, City Council of Ashland, Wisconsin
- ,, Monona City Council
Other offices
- Diego Archuleta, Member of the Mexican Congress, soldier in the Mexican Army, in the Mexican–American War, Native American Agent by President Abraham Lincoln, and member of the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was the first Hispanic Brigadier General.
- Fleming Begaye Sr. – Navajo Code Talker, Honorary Chair of the Native American Coalition of the Donald J. Trump for President Campaign, 2016.
- Elias Cornelius Boudinot — Tribal Representative to the Confederate Congress, 1862–65. Represented the Cherokee Nation.
- Samuel Benton Callahan — Tribal Representative to the Confederate Congress, 1864–65. Represented the Creek and Seminole nations.
- Plenty Coups – Representative of Native Americans for the dedication of the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier
- Robert McDonald Jones — Tribal Representative to the Confederate Congress, 1863–65. Represented the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations.
- Peter MacDonald – Member of Richard Nixon's Committee to Re-Elect the President in 1972.
- Will Rogers, honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, California
- Clarence L. Tinker – Major General, highest ranking Native American officer in the Army, Commander of the 7th Air Force in Hawaii, shot down and killed during the Battle of Midway.