A Republican candidate in Utah says Indians who question his tribal heritage are upset only because he is a conservative.

Jay Brummett claims to be Lakota and Comanche. In the 1990s, he filed a complaint as a "member of the Lakota Sioux tribe" that led the Utah Supreme Court to revoke the use of "redskin" in state license plates.

But when questioned by The Salt Lake Tribune, he admitted he is not Lakota by blood. He claims Lakota because his step-grandfather was Lakota, he said.

"The life experiences I have are Lakota," Brummett told the paper. "That's how I affiliate."

However, Brummett sticks by his claim that he is Comanche. He says his grandmother was mixed-blood Comanche.

"As a Republican, there are a number of folks [American Indians] who will say I'm not known. They will decide on whether I'm Native American enough," Brummett told the paper.

Brummett is running for Utah House District 35. His opponent is Democratic incumbent Rep. Mark Wheatley.

Get the Story:
District 35 House race: Candidate's tribal ties at issue (The Salt Lake Tribune 10/26)

Relevant Links:
Jay Brummett - http://www.brummett.info

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