List of Native American politicians
Name Life Ethnicity or tribe Party Offices held
George Adams 1880-1954 Skokomish Democratic State representative ( 1933-1939 ) , ( 1945-1954 )
Don Barlow 1938-2016 Ottawa Democratic State representative ( 2007-2009 )
William Bishop 1861-1934 Snohomish Republican State senator ( 1919-1927 ) , ( 1933-1934 ) , State representative ( 1899-1903 ) , ( 1905-1907 ) , ( 1909-1911 ) , ( 1917-1919 )
Jim Dunn 1942- Inuit Republican State representative ( 1997-2003 ) , ( 2005-2009 )
Claudia Kauffman 1959- Nez Perce Democratic State senator ( 2007-2011 )
Debra Lekanoff 1971- Tlingit Democratic State representative ( 2019- )
John McCoy 1943- Tulalip Democratic State senator ( 2013- ) , State representative ( 2003-2013 )
Jeff Morris 1964- Tsimshian Democratic State representative ( 1997- )
Chief George Pierre 1926-2011 Colville Democratic State representative ( 1965-1967 )
Jay Rodne 1966- Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians Republican State representative ( 2004-2019 )
Dino Rossi 1959- Tlingit Republican State senator ( 1997-2003 , 2012 , 2017 ) ; 2004 and 2008 Republican nominee for Governor
Lois Stratton 1927- Spokane Democratic State senator ( 1985-1993 ) , State representative ( 1980-1985 )
John Tennant 1830-1893 Quapaw Territorial representative ( 1858-1860 )
State offices -- Washington
This is a list of Native American politicians in the United States. These are Native Americans who served in the federal, state, or municipal governments. Native American identity is a complex and contested issue. The Bureau of Indian Affairs defines Native American as having American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry. Legally, being Native American is defined as being enrolled in a federally recognized tribe or Alaskan village. These entities establish their own membership rules, and they vary. Each must be understood independently. Ethnologically, factors such as culture, history, language, religion, and familial kinships can influence Native American identity. All individuals on this list should have Native American ancestry. Historical figures might predate tribal enrollment practices and may be included based on reliable sources that document ethnological tribal membership. Any contemporary individuals should either be enrolled members of federally recognized tribes, or have cited Native American ancestry and be recognized as Native American by their respective tribes(s). Contemporary individuals who are not enrolled in a tribe but are documented as having tribal descent are listed as being of descent from a tribe.