Minnesota picks ticket with Native Democrat in governor's race

Wednesday, November 7, 2018  

As voters went to the polls on a historic Election Day, Indian Country knew Minnesota would elect a Native woman as lieutenant governor for the first time.

The only question was, which candidate? Donna Bergstrom, a Republican state lawmaker and citizen of the Red Lake Nation, and Peggy Flanagan, a Democratic lawmaker and citizen of the White Earth Nation, were both on the ballot.

By the end of Tuesday night, the answer was clear. Flanagan secured victory with her running mate governor-elect Tim Walz.

"We are thankful for the hard work and support everyone has shown," Flanagan wrote in a post on Twitter later in the evening. "Today, we continue the journey of making #OneMinnesota a reality."

According to the unofficial results from the Secretary of State, the Walz/Flanagan ticket won almost 54 percent of the vote. Bergstrom and Jeff Johnson got about 42 percent.

"To the million-plus Minnesotans who voted for Donna and me last night and the thousands who gave us your time and love - THANK YOU!" Johnson wrote in a message on Wednesday morning.

Today, @Tim_Walz, our families, and I are humbled and grateful to stand before Minnesotans statewide. We are thankful for the hard work and support everyone has shown. Today, we continue the journey of making #OneMinnesota a reality. pic.twitter.com/2CZPL3xiun

— Peggy Flanagan (Untamed) (@peggyflanagan) November 7, 2018

But in a year with a record number of Native American women running for lieutenant governor, Flanagan was the only one who racked up a win at this level. In Alaska, Debra Call, a Dena’ina Athabascan and former president of the Knik Tribe, fell short with her attempt to make history in the 49th state.

Call was the running mate of Mark Begich, a former U.S. Senator and former member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The Democratic team got about 44 percent of the vote, according to the Alaska Division of Elections.

The winners instead were the Republican team of Mike Dunleavy and Kevin Meyer, who secured 52 percent of the vote. Prior to the vote, Call told Indianz.Com that she was worried about the way the first Alaskans would be treated by her rivals.

“We can’t have Dunleavy get in the office because it will be absolutely devastating for the state,” Call asserted.

But Dunleavy, whose wife and children are Native, vowed to represent all citizens. He plans to address public safety and restore payments from the Alaska Permanent Fund, which distributes oil revenues to state residents every year.

"From the beginning, this campaign has been about the people of Alaska," the governor-elect said in a statement on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, another Native Democrat came up short. Anastasia Pittman, a state lawmaker and citizen of the Seminole Nation, lost her bid for lieutenant governor in Oklahoma even as voters elected Republican Kevin Stitt, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, as the first Native governor in history.

Flanagan benefited from Minnesota's strong Democratic base. Almost all of the state's elected leaders, including those who won on Tuesday, are members of the party.

The picture looks a lot different in Alaska and Oklahoma. In both states, almost all of the leading politicians are Republicans, making it more difficult for candidates like Call and Pittman to win on a statewide level.

"IMPORTANT WIN ALERT: @peggyflanagan will serve as Minnesota's first-ever Native American lieutenant governor," the Democratic National Committee wrote in a congratulatory post on Election Night.

Growing up, I was the kid with the different colored lunch ticket, and Medicaid saved my life as a kid with asthma. Some politicians talk about ‘those people’ well I am ‘those people’. My entire life I’ve fought for children and families and that’s what I’ll continue to do. pic.twitter.com/qHKhRjbsWF

— Peggy Flanagan (Untamed) (@peggyflanagan) October 11, 2018

Election Day: #NativeVote18 races to watch across the nation (November 6, 2018)