Big Wins for Native American Women Lawmakers in 2026
S360’s teams worked on campaigns across the country. In New Mexico, our campaign strategist Steve Fitzer worked in the state, and across the country on an array of successful campaigns this year – including Deb Haaland’s historic win as Governor-elect for the state and first ever Native American woman governor. Steve served as a senior advisor on her campaign helping with fundraising, policy positions, and campaign strategy. Her traditional democratic grassroots-style campaign won the hearts of New Mexicans, and we were able to raise $21 million for her race. Steve now serves on her transition team acting as a bridge between business, non-profit, and union interests and the Governor-Elect’s team. He is also helping plan her inauguration.
Democrats secured a super majority in the New Mexico state house, with a continuation of a Democratic governor, paving the way for cooperation on policy for the state. While the make-up of the current house is not a far departure from a consistently Democratic-leaning state, this does position New Mexico as a bellwether for the 2028 Presidential election. It is the fourth state to vote in the Democratic primary. It also has a large Native American population – around 12%, and the highest percentage of Hispanic population of any US State – around 49%. The unique makeup of the state makes New Mexico a contender for Democrats’ attention and policy positions in 2028 that address the concerns and issues most pressing to these distinct communities.
Steve’s success with Native American candidates extends beyond New Mexico. In Minnesota, he helped Senator-elect Peggy Flanagan with tribal outreach and fundraising. Senator-elect Flanagan is the first Native American woman to serve in the US Senate, and Steve fundraised $300K for the campaign and another $1 million for independent expenditures.
In Kansas, Sharice Davids successfully defended her Congressional seat by a 20-point margin, her largest to date. This increase and her ongoing success serving Kansas in the US House of Representatives demonstrates that she has built a strong position to hold this seat in the future. Moreover, her strong showing on election night likely bolstered other Democratic wins across the state, by bringing more voters to participate in statewide races. You can read more about Kansas elections from our Strategic Alliance Partner, Primacy Strategy Group here. Steve fundraised $250K for this race, and supports the Congresswoman with ongoing tribal engagement, including coordinating a quarterly call with Tribal leaders and lobbyists to focus on issues important to tribes and Indian Country.
In the too-soon-to-call race in Alaska, Steve supported Mary Peltola’s campaign with fundraising and outreach. The unique rural and expansive lands of Alaska make campaigning in the state particularly challenging and costly. To engage with many Alaskan-Native communities, candidates must travel by plane or boat to get to the remote destinations across the United State’s largest state. To learn more about the unique process of Alaska elections, see our Alaska recap here.
Claire Valdez is the first Native American Congresswoman representing NY. Her Brooklyn district was predicted to support her candidacy, which was aided by Steves fundraising for her campaign. While Congresswoman-elect Valdez will be representing a densely and diversely populated district, Steve will remain collaborative with her and her office to support tribal engagement beyond the city during her term.
Finally, Steve has long worked with the DCCC for tribal engagement and fundraising. He secured $4million for their efforts this year, and hosts two Native American issues-focused conferences with them per year – keeping Native voices and priorities centered in the Democratic Party. This year the organization was instrumental in Democrats winning back a majority in the House, and in supporting Native American candidates across the country.
