A potential win in November for the Democratic ticket could make history in another way as Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota could potentially become the first Native American woman to lead a state. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, became the highest-ranking Native woman elected to an executive office in 2019 and won re-election in 2022 with Gov. Tim Walz. With Vice President Kamala Harris selecting Walz as her running mate, a victory against Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, could propel Flanagan to the position of Minnesota governor.
Flanagan, at 44, would also become Minnesota’s first female governor if she were to assume the position. She has been outspoken in support of Indigenous rights and played a role in changing Minnesota’s state flag, which was criticized for its depiction of Native Americans. Flanagan has also been vocal against Trump’s policies, particularly concerning violence against Native women and girls.
Native Americans make up slightly more than 1% of Minnesota’s population, and the Native vote was influential in helping Joe Biden win against Trump in the state in 2020. Flanagan has helped establish initiatives to address missing and murdered Indigenous individuals, including the creation of the state’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office in St. Paul. Flanagan’s potential governorship would be a significant milestone in Indigenous representation in government, as governors with Native American ancestry, such as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, remain rare.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
