Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on the campaign trail. Photo from Facebook
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is hosting a town hall on the Navajo Nation on Thursday evening. The event is open to the public. It will be held at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort in Flagstaff. “I’m excited,” Derrick Watchman, a tribal member who serves as CEO of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, told The Navajo Times. “They reached out to our general manager saying they would like to use our facility because it’s on the reservation and it’s close to Flagstaff." The visit highlights the increased attention that the Sanders campaign is placing on Arizona. Sanders held a rally in Phoenix on Tuesday and Jane Sanders, the wife of the candidate, met with the Apache Stronghold on Sunday.
Jane Sanders, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, speaks with Wendsler Nosie Sr., a council member for the San Carlos Apache Tribe, at Oak Flat in Arizona on March 14, 2016. Photo from Jane O'Meara Sanders
The Stronghold is fighting to protect sacred Oak Flat from a copper mine. The Senator from Vermont has introduced S.2242, the Save Oak Flat Act, to stop the development. "What an honor to be invited to Oak Flat yesterday, the sacred land of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Thank you!" Jane Sanders wrote on Twitter on Sunday. She posed for a photo with Wendsler Nosie Sr., a council member for the San Carlos Apache Tribe. Native Americans represent 5.3 percent of the population in Arizona, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Flagstaff is located in Arizona's 1st Congressional district, which is home to more Native Americans than any other in the country. Flagstaff is also the seat of Coconino County, where Native Americans represent 27.3 percent of the population. The Native vote could play a big role when Sanders goes up against Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary on Tuesday. A poll shows Clinton with a big lead in the state, the Phoenix Business Journal reported, but a large segment remains undecided.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders campaigned at the Meskwaki Tribal Center on the Meskwaki Settlement on September 4, 2015. Photo from Bernie Sanders
Paying attention to Indian Country has paid off for Sanders in the past. On September 4, 2015, he spoke to members of the Meskwaki Tribe and they later rewarded him by giving him the overwhelming number of votes on the Indian Settlement precinct last month. Get the Story:
Twin Arrows to host Bernie Sanders (The Navajo Times 3/17)
Bernie Sanders to host town hall at Twin Arrows Thursday (The Arizona Daily Sun 3/17)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Steve Russell: Donald Trump brings bad news to
Indian Country (3/17) Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton continue to rack up more wins (3/16)
Mark Trahant: More opportunities for Native votes as race drags out (03/09)
Donald Trump racks up 3 more victories as Clinton and Sanders split wins in 2 states (03/09)
Wife of Bernie Sanders slated to visit sacred Apache site in Arizona (3/8)
Hillary Clinton affirms support of 'nationhood' for Native Hawaiians (3/8)
Mark Trahant: Bernie Sanders is paying attention to Indian Country (3/7)
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton solidify status as front-runners (03/02)
Mark Trahant: Let's make sure Native votes matter in the election (3/1)
Gyasi Ross appears on Democracy Now! to discuss 2016 election (2/29)
Hillary Clinton wins another state as campaigns head to big vote (2/29)
Mark Trahant: Indian Country needs big ideas from candidates (2/26)
NCAI hears from Bernie Sanders presidential campaign at DC meeting(2/25)
Hillary Clinton campaign releases Indian policy at NCAI winter session (2/24)
Donald Trump secures commanding victory in Nevada GOP vote (2/24)
Steve Russell: Cruzing to disaster with bad federal land policies (2/24)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on inside track (2/23)
Indian voters continue to favor Bernie Sanders as race sizzles (2/22)
Mark Trahant: Federal land battle surfaces in presidential race (2/22)
Jacqueline Keeler: Bernie Sanders outlines Indian policy goals (02/16)
Gyasi Ross: Presidential candidates must earn the Native vote (2/16)
Mark Trahant: Native voters are the true outsiders in any election (02/12)
Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders win big in New Hampshire vote (2/10)
Harold Monteau: Democrats stack the deck for only one candidate (02/08)
Mark Trahant: Bernie Sanders campaign starts Indian policy group (02/05)
Bernie Sanders won Democratic precinct on Meskwaki Reservation (02/03)
Mark Trahant: Self-determination should be on the table for presidential campaign (02/03)
James Giago Davies: Only one candidate can help Indian Country (02/03)
Ted Cruz wins GOP caucus as Hillary Clinton claims victory in Iowa (02/02)
Steve Russell: Values make a difference even for our politicians (01/19)
Mark Trahant: A guide to the 2016 elections for Indian Country (01/11)
Gyasi Ross: Be thankful for Donald Trump for exposing racism (12/28)
Steve Russell: Democrats smooth debates for Hillary Clinton (12/21)
Steve Russell: Fear and aggression take center stage for GOP (12/17)
Mark Trahant: The real business of leading in a time of chaos (12/16)
Mark Trahant: The road to the White House is paved with the Native vote (12/14)
Rep. Markwayne Mullin endorses Sen. Marco Rubio for president (11/23)
Steve Russell: Ben Carson and the intrusion on women's rights (11/02)
Republican Jeb Bush wants to move DOI headquarters out West (10/22)
Three presidential candidates make appeals to Indian Country (10/20)
Republican Jeb Bush wants to repeal Indian health care law (10/14)
Five Democratic presidential candidates meet for opening debate (10/13)
Donald Trump doesn't think NFL team's racist mascot should go (10/06)
Republican Jeb Bush defends racist name of Washington NFL team (10/01)
Jeb Bush wants tribes and states to control energy development (09/30)
Hillary Clinton breaks silence and opposes Keystone XL Pipeline (09/23)
Democrats slam GOP candidate for comments about assimilation (09/03)
Donald Trump's campaign manager linked to Abramoff scandal (09/03)
Native Sun News Editorial: Republican attacks on Hillary Clinton (09/02)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump isn't the only crazy one in the race (08/27)