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Politics
Reporting on tribal, state, and national politics — from policy shifts to legislative decisions shaping Native communities.
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Federal Politics
Trump dumps Noem, taps Mullin to be next DHS Secretary
If approved, Mullin would be second Native man to serve as U.S. Cabinet member
Brian Bull
Native Leadership
Native political organizer and activist running for South Dakota governor
Candidate Allison Renville stresses importance of restoring trust between tribes and the state
Gabrielle Nelson
State Capitol
Indigenous voices speak loudly at Bismarck ‘No Kings’ rally
Thousands peacefully protest
Gabrielle Nelson
Tribal leadership
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe swears in new leaders
Steve Sitting Bear elected as chairman
Gabrielle Nelson
Native Leadership
Native political organizer and activist running for South Dakota governor
Candidate Allison Renville stresses importance of restoring trust between tribes and the state
By Gabrielle Nelson
State Capitol
Indigenous voices speak loudly at Bismarck ‘No Kings’ rally
Thousands peacefully protest
By Gabrielle Nelson
Tribal leadership
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe swears in new leaders
Steve Sitting Bear elected as chairman
By Gabrielle Nelson
Tribal consultation
Bill seeks to strengthen tribal consultation on North Dakota legislation
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
Meal Access
Free school meals bill advances in North Dakota legislative committee
Jeff Beach, North Dakota Monitor
Voting Rules
Voter registration, campaign finance reporting debated by North Dakota lawmakers
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
Tax Fight
North Dakota tribal leaders seek to restore vehicle tax exemption
Amy Dalrymple, North Dakota Monitor
Food Security
Hearing set Monday on bill that would provide free school meals for North Dakota students
Erin Hemme Froslie, North Dakota Monitor
Power Shift
North Dakota sued Interior at least five times under Doug Burgum. Now he’s set to run the agency
Mary Steurer and Mark Olalde, North Dakota Monitor
Victory Upheld
MHA Nation secures key victory as Supreme Court upholds majority-Native District 4A
‘Hard-fought progress toward fair representation is now protected’
By Adrianna Adame
Court decision
Supreme Court upholds North Dakota’s majority-Native legislative subdistricts
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
Community Boost
Underserved rural communities targeted in legislative proposal
$50 million endowment fund could spur redevelopment, housing
Michael Standaert, North Dakota News Cooperative
Sovereignty Strengthened
Standing Rock chair opens North Dakota Legislature, urges collaboration with tribes
‘We may not always agree, but we must remain united in service to our people’
By Adrianna Adame
Sovereignty Strengthened
Standing Rock chair stresses building unity and infrastructure
Infrastructure, healthcare, and sovereignty: tribal leaders address state legislature
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
Dakota Access Pipeline
Judge denies Greenpeace request to investigate mailer critical of DAPL protests
Pro-fossil fuel mailer raised concerns in Dakota Access Pipeline case
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
President Carter
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
Died Sunday Dec. 29, 2024, after spending over a year in hospice care
Ross Wiliams, North Dakota Monitor
Dakota Access Pipeline
Pipeline owner joins lawsuit over Dakota Access Pipeline
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe wants a federal court to order that the pipeline be shut down
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
Election
Democrats, women clean up in all-Native candidate match for North Dakota District 9
‘Minority of minority’ emerges from new voter map to challenge conservative trend at statehouse
By Adrianna Adame
North Dakota
Interior Secretary nominee draws praise from tribal leaders
Leaders from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate expressed joy regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior
Amelia Schafer, Rapid City Journal & ICT
MHA Nation
North Dakota tribal leaders see Burgum as an ally in Interior, energy role
Burgum will succeed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland of New Mexico
Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor
Election
District 4A race achieves better Native turnout at polls
Fort Berthold reelects Lisa Finley-DeVille over Ron Brugh, 64-36%
By Adrianna Adame and Adrianna Adame
After the Election: Work continues for Indigenous nations
North Dakota election observers report more education needed on set-aside ballots
North Dakotans re-elect Public Service Commission Chair Randy Christmann over Native candidate
By Adrianna Adame
Former President Donald Trump on the cusp of a second term after victories in swing states
Troubles at the ballot box: Tribal IDs often aren’t accepted
North Dakota sees strong early voting numbers, signaling ‘enthusiasm’
What Project 2025 has to say about Native communities
Public Service Commission incumbent prioritizes utility reliability, efficiency
By Grace Fiori
Sharing addiction story ‘so worth it,’ Kathryn Burgum says
North Dakota Native Vote selected for Bush Prize
North Dakota could elect first Indigenous utilities commissioner: Balloting begins
By Grace Fiori
2024 Election Guide from Bismarck Documenters
By Buffalo's Fire
Election Spotlight: Key issues for American Indian communities in North Dakota
By Adrianna Adame
Tribes, state argue redistricting case to federal appeals court
The Native vote dilemma
Indigenous Peoples Day events focus on election
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe files new lawsuit over DAPL
North Dakota tribes eligible for state grant to promote voter access
District 4A House candidates stress Native voter education and access in North Dakota state race
By Adrianna Adame
Most 2024 North Dakota ballot measures appear too close to call
South Dakota governor seeks audits of tribes
Referendum advances as Three Affiliated Tribes go to polls with doubts about $250M payout
By Talli Nauman
BadAss Grandmas want you to get involved for democracy
Mobilized by a $250 million mystery, North Segment candidates promise honesty
By Grace Fiori
‘Mom in moccasins’ running for Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation council seat
By Adrianna Adame
Indigenous leaders show up in force at Democratic National Convention
Hundreds of thousands of parents died from drugs. Their kids need more help, advocates say
Vice President Kamala Harris’ mixed record on Indigenous issues
Indigenous congress members react to attempted assassination of Donald Trump
Legislative primary races to watch
Seventh tribe bans Kristi Noem
North Dakota changes course on tribal redistricting case, asks US Supreme Court to rule
Native lawmakers seek accountability after racial misconduct at school events
Baesler says NDGOP doesn’t reflect voters’ views on education
Tribes ask court to end North Dakota’s appeal of Native voting rights victories
By Adrianna Adame
Opinion
Tribal leaders hand illusionary sovereignty, tax collection to North Dakota state government
MHA Nation alcohol tax sharing agreement with the state likely unconstitutional
By Todd Hall and Todd Hall
Feds meet with Lake County Commission on criminal jurisdiction
Looking ahead with Brad Hawk, executive director of North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission
Pipeline protest trial ends, ruling still months out
Democrats endorse 3 tribal members in District 9
Native activist says treaty rights forgotten in DAPL trial
Indigenous concerns surface in North Dakota v. Corps of Engineers federal DAPL lawsuit
By Talli Nauman
Corps chose not to publicize environmental damage by DAPL protesters, official testifies
Heather Demaray elected as Indigenous Parent Advisory Committee chairperson, new officers picked by majority vote
By Adrianna Adame
In ‘Democrat country,’ Republicans recruit 2 tribal members for House seats
Testimony shows Burgum didn’t want DAPL to escalate into a standoff
Redistricting
Drawing better lines so that Native votes count
Montana draws electoral districts to reflect politically cohesive minority voting blocs; that could work in other states where Native Americans live.
By Jodi Rave Spotted Bear
Politics
Five Ways Courts Say Texas Discriminated Against Black and Latino Voters
Rulings under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act found disproportionate burdens and cited actions that reduced Latino and Black electoral influence; Attorney General Greg Abbott
By Lois Beckett and Suevon Lee
