2024-10-26 17:58:00
RED SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — The Native American community has been a decisive voting bloc in a battleground state since 2020, and with the 2024 race still so close, both campaigns are trying to Mobilize Indigenous voters ahead of the November election.
But many Indigenous voters say the two campaigns couldn’t be more different in terms of messaging. With the passage of the Snyder Act of 1924, a century since Native Americans gained the right to vote, campaigns that manage to retain power in this election could win in some of the most competitive counties in the country.
In low-resource states like Arizona, North Carolina, Michigan and Nevada, candidates — most notably Vice President Kamala Harris — have used radio ads and events on tribal lands to Come target Native Americans, with speakers including Bill Clinton and Donald Trump Jr.
Native Americans lean Democratic, but they are more likely to vote Republican than Latinos or African Americans, said Gabriel R. Sanchez, a scholar at the Brookings Institution. He added that they are one of the youngest and least partisan voting populations in the country and are often motivated by issues that directly impact their communities, such as property rights and environmental protection.
In 2020, President Joe Biden’s administration campaigned on several Native Americans in battleground states such as Wisconsin and Arizona, and congressional districts on tribal lands helped tilt the election slightly in favor of Democrats. “Arizona is a clear example of what it can look like if you make these investments up front,” Sanchez said.
Harris said the U.S. must respect treaty rights and uphold tribal sovereignty as part of a $370 million advertising campaign this month that includes multiple reservations. Crystal Echo Hawe, executive director of Illuminative, a nonprofit that works to increase visibility for Native Americans, said such commitments, along with economic and environmental protection, were the top issues Illuminative identified in its survey.
Echo Hawk noted that such investments could pay off for Democrats again. “I have not seen similar targeted messaging and outreach from the Trump campaign,” he said. Harris is also expected to inherit some of the goodwill from the Barack Obama and Biden administrations, he added.
Obama has stepped up consultations with tribes on issues such as land protection and criminal justice, and Biden has appointed more than 80 Native Americans to high-level administrative positions.
“As soon as the news broke that Harris would be running, people organized overnight,” Echohawk said. He commented that Trump will have to deal with the 85% reduction in Bears Ears National Monument and the restart of the Keystone XL pipeline, both of which are unpopular with First Nations.
On Friday, Biden formally apologized for the government’s Indigenous residential school system and its legacy of abuse and cultural destruction. Although the apology was considered too late, it was praised by tribal leaders. On Saturday, vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, will campaign for the Navajo Nation.
The Trump campaign did not target Native Americans with ads, but U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, campaigned for the campaign in Native communities in North Carolina. With a former president running for office, this is a political swing state decided by a handful of people.
On a cool afternoon a few weeks ago, Mullin stood on a small stage in front of bales of straw with Donald Trump Jr. and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Budd, a former Democrat, recently announced he was joining the Republican Party. They talked about topics ranging from economics to tribal self-determination.
The event was held on a small farm in Red Springs, North Carolina, which is part of Mullin’s ancestral traditional lands and home to the Lumbee Tribe, a state-recognized indigenous community with about 55,000 members.
Several tribal nations oppose federal recognition of Lumbee, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Mullin’s own tribe, the Cherokees of Oklahoma. Lambie’s push for federal recognition has become a flashpoint in both campaigns and an issue on which both sides rarely agree. Last month, Trump said he would recognize Lumbee through federal legislation. Harris called the Lumbee tribal chairman last week to discuss the law.
“This is an injustice to the people of Lambie that must be righted,” Mullin told those gathered. “This is completely ridiculous. It has to be done. “I was very proud to hear President Trump say he would approve it. “
But Mullin was quick to point to one of the many areas where the two candidates disagree: energy policy. Stressing that a second Trump term would mean a better economy and lower energy costs, Mullin framed Trump’s policies in a recognizable term that was chanted by those gathered: “Drill, baby.” , drill”.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations are pushing harder than ever to increase oil and gas production, including mining energy projects that are opposed by Indigenous peoples. However, Native leaders have expressed concern that Trump is more likely to further weaken protections for tribal lands.
Marin suggested that if tribal nations were truly sovereign, they should be able to conduct energy extraction without federal intervention. He said that just as the Lumbee people fought for federal recognition, the tribe’s right to manage its own lands fell victim to federal bureaucracy.
“Why are tribal lands considered public lands?” Mullin asked, questioning why the federal government should have oversight of Indigenous people’s access to natural resources on their lands. “On the other side of the protected area fence, there are natural resources extracted from the earth. Some private landowners are very wealthy, while some are actually living in protected areas,” he said, comparing some of the countries to third-world countries. is starving. “
The message resonated with Robert Chavez Jr., a physical education teacher and Army veteran who attended the rally and voted for Trump. Chavez, a Lambi native, said tribal nations are not just governments but also businesses, and the United States is no exception. “I don’t think there is a need for a politician there. “We need a businessman who can run the country the way it should be run. “
But other Lumby voters were less convinced. Janice Locklear, speaking at her art gallery a few miles away in Pembroke, said Trump promised he would recognize Lumby at the federal level last time he was in office, but he had no reason to believe it. This is the first time he can achieve this goal.
Locklear said that as a woman of color, she believes Harris will have a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by Native Americans. “I’m sure she has to face the same issues we face,” Locklear said. “Discrimination, I’m sure she faced that as well.”
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Interview with Gabriel R. Sanchez, Scholar at the Brookings Institution, on the Role of Native American Voters in the 2024 Election
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Gabriel. As we approach the 2024 elections, can you explain the significance of the Native American voting bloc in battleground states?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: Absolutely! Since 2020, Native Americans have emerged as a crucial voting bloc in key states like Arizona, North Carolina, and Michigan. Their votes can be pivotal, especially given their growing political engagement and unique issues that resonate with their communities, such as environmental protection and property rights.
Editor: How are the current campaigns tailoring their messages to appeal to Indigenous voters, and how do these strategies differ between the parties?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: The messaging differs significantly. The Biden campaign, with Vice President Harris at the forefront, emphasizes respecting treaty rights and tribal sovereignty. They’ve invested in targeted outreach, including radio ads and events on tribal lands, which seems to resonate well. In contrast, the Trump campaign, while it has some supporters like Sen. Mullin who are actively engaging with Native communities, hasn’t demonstrated the same level of commitment to targeted messaging.
Editor: You mentioned that Indigenous voters lean Democratic, but they are more likely to support Republicans than other minority groups. What factors contribute to this trend?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: Yes, Native American voters are one of the youngest and least partisan demographics. Their loyalty can shift based on the issues at stake rather than party affiliation. Many are motivated by practical concerns like economic development and environmental stewardship, which can lead them to support Republican candidates if they address those issues effectively.
Editor: Recently, Biden formally apologized for the residential school system affecting Native Americans. How might this gesture impact the election?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: The apology, although late, has been positively received by tribal leaders and can enhance the Biden campaign’s standing with Indigenous voters. It reinforces the administration’s commitment to addressing historical injustices, which can mobilize voters that value recognition and reparations for past wrongs.
Editor: Looking forward, what do you see as the critical issues that Native American voters will focus on as they head to the polls?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: Economic opportunities, environmental protections, and sovereignty rights are paramount. The Lumbee tribe’s pursuit of federal recognition is also a hot topic reflecting broader systemic issues within Native American relations with the federal government. How candidates address these concerns will be critical for mobilizing the Indigenous vote.
Editor: Thank you, Gabriel, for your insights on such an important topic as we gear up for the elections!
Gabriel R. Sanchez: Thank you for having me! It’s important to elevate the voices of Native American communities in this critical moment.
:Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Gabriel. As we approach the 2024 elections, can you explain the significance of the Native American voting bloc in battleground states?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: Absolutely! Since 2020, Native Americans have emerged as a crucial voting bloc in key states like Arizona, North Carolina, and Michigan. Their votes can be pivotal, especially given their growing political engagement and unique issues that resonate with their communities, such as environmental protection and property rights.
Editor: How are the current campaigns tailoring their messages to appeal to Indigenous voters, and how do these strategies differ between the parties?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: The messaging differs significantly. The Biden campaign, with Vice President Harris at the forefront, emphasizes respecting treaty rights and tribal sovereignty. They’ve invested in targeted outreach, including radio ads and events on tribal lands, which seems to resonate well. In contrast, the Trump campaign, while it has some supporters like Sen. Mullin who are actively engaging with Native communities, hasn’t demonstrated the same level of commitment to targeted messaging.
Editor: You mentioned that Indigenous voters lean Democratic but are more likely to support Republicans than other minority groups. What factors contribute to this trend?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: Yes, Native American voters are one of the youngest and least partisan demographics. Their loyalty can shift based on the issues at stake rather than party affiliation. Many are motivated by practical concerns like economic development and environmental stewardship, which can lead them to support Republican candidates if they address those issues effectively.
Editor: What do you think will be the key issues driving Native American voters this election cycle?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: The key issues include respect for tribal sovereignty, environmental protection, and economic opportunities. Many Indigenous voters are particularly focused on how each candidate plans to address their unique challenges, such as land rights and resource management. The importance of these issues cannot be overstated, as they directly affect their communities’ future.
Editor: with the differing commitments from each campaign, do you think we will see a shift in Native American voting patterns compared to previous elections?
Gabriel R. Sanchez: It’s certainly possible. The level of engagement from both campaigns this cycle is unprecedented. If the Biden campaign continues its targeted efforts, they could bolster their support among Indigenous voters. Conversely, if the Trump campaign manages to effectively address Indigenous concerns, we may see more crossover to Republican candidates than in past elections. It ultimately hinges on how well each party resonates with the voters on these critical issues.
