For the second presidential election in a row, the spouse of the Republican vice presidential pick has Indian ancestry.

Janna Ryan, the wife of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), has Chickasaw ancestry through her father, Dan Little. However, she is not currently enrolled in the Chickasaw Nation.

The couple met in Washington, D.C., while Janna was working for a Democratic member of Congress. They were married in her home state of Oklahoma in 2000.

In the 2008 election, the husband of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin stood out for his Alaska Native ancestry. Todd Palin and the couple's children are Alaska Native corporation shareholders.

Incidentally, Janna Ryan is a first cousin of outgoing Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma). They are related through her father, so Boren also has Chickasaw ancestry.

Boren is going to work for the Chickasaw Nation when he leaves Congress. Like Ryan, he is not currently enrolled in the tribe.

Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, is introducing Paul Ryan as his vice presidential pick today.

Get the Story:
Paul Ryan is Romney’s pick for vice presidential nominee (The Washington Post 8/11)
Romney Picks Paul Ryan of Wisconsin (The New York Times 8/11)