Staff Reports
Seventeen Native American-majority counties decided to break against the historical Democrat trend and lean toward Trump, marking a significant shift in voting patterns. For decades, many minority groups, including Native Americans, stood firmly in the Democrat camp, but recent elections are telling a different story. In South Dakota, all nine Native American-majority counties turned red, and voters are clearly feeling the economic heat enough to make a change.
Take New Mexico’s McKinley County, where a whopping 81% of the population is Native American. The county saw a notable 14-point swing toward Trump. North Dakota’s Sioux County, boasting an equally impressive 81% Native American demographic, shifted 10 points right. This wasn’t just a small, localized event. Instead, it represents a larger trend within swing states, where the traditional voting patterns of Native Americans appear to be breaking down.
Election Fallout – Shocking shift towards the Republican Party: "The youth vote, the Democratic margin cut more than in half. Voters under $50,000 now a Republican constituency, and voters without a college degree—now a core Republican constituency." WATCH pic.twitter.com/oRN6jF4xGB
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) November 11, 2024
Highlights of this shift can be observed in Arizona, a key battleground state with a sizeable Native American population. Support for Biden dropped dramatically from 34% in 2020 to a mere 19% for Kamala Harris this time around. While Biden may have been praised for his connection to Native Americans, it seems that economic realities have dulled the shine of his campaign promises.
In North Carolina, despite Native Americans making up a meager 3% of the population, the Lumbee tribe showed signs of favoring Trump more than in previous elections. In Robeson County, where the Lumbee are predominantly located, Trump captured an impressive 63.3% of the vote—a 4% increase from four years ago. When a minority voting bloc starts making such shifts, it becomes a clear signal that something in the political air is changing.
Montana’s Senate race provided another window into this phenomenon. Although the presidential race wasn’t competitive, the fight between Republican Tim Sheehy and Democrat Jon Tester was tighter than a drum. Sheehy ultimately won, and the Native American-majority Glacier and Blaine counties saw significant gains for the Republican candidate. Despite Tester advocating for tribal sovereignty, many saw past these issues and focused on broader economic factors, which overwhelmingly shape voter sentiment.
With the economic challenges facing Native Americans—like a staggering poverty rate of nearly 30% on reservations compared to the national average of 15%—it’s no wonder they are reassessing their allegiance. Median household incomes hover around $35,310 on reservations, far beneath the national average of $51,371. Asserting one’s independence through economics—now that’s a formula for going red. The Arizona Republican Party found that Trump’s message resonated strongly with voters living in economically strained environments, indicating that people are looking to practical solutions over political platitudes.
