In North Dakota, tribes keep pushing for fair map
Supreme Court decision creates new challenges
A years-long Voting Rights Act dispute in North Dakota took a new turn on Aug. 28 when Native plaintiffs advanced an amended complaint alleging discrimination in the state’s legislative map.
In 2023, the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota found the map from 2021 deprived Native voters “of an equal opportunity to participate in the political process,” according to the Native American Rights Fund.
Then, in April 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais created renewed challenges. The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, the Spirit Lake Tribe and individual Native American plaintiffs in North Dakota continue fighting for a fair map.
NARF released a statement about the latest update to the North Dakota voting rights case on Aug. 28. Spirit Lake Tribe Chair Lonna Jackson-Street was quoted saying: “A fair map that follows North Dakota’s own criteria brings our Tribes together and gives Native voters a real voice. We proved this map discriminates once, and we will prove it again under the new standard.”
- 1.Tribes Forced to Re-argue their Successful Challenge of Discriminatory Map. Native American Rights Fund, .
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