List of Native American politicians

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This is a list of Native American politicians

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Representative Scott BigHorse House District # 36 Oklahoma House of Representatives elected Nov. 7th 2006

Benjamin William Arnett (1838-1906) — of Ohio. Born in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pa., 1838. Son of Benjamin Arnett; married 1858 to Mary Louisa Gordon. School teacher and principal; ordained minister; member of Ohio state house of representatives, 1886; first black state legislator elected to represent a majority white constituency; bishop. Black. Methodist. Scottish, American Indian, and Irish ancestry. Lost a leg due to a tumor in 1858. Died, of uremia, in Wilberforce, Greene County, Ohio, October 9, 1906. Interment at Tarbox Cemetery, Wilberforce, Ohio.

Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett (1833-1908) — also known as Ebenezer D. Bassett — of Pennsylvania; New York, New York County, N.Y. Born in Litchfield, Litchfield County, Conn., October 16, 1833. U.S. Minister to Haiti, 1869-77; U.S. Consul General in Port-au-Prince, 1874. Black. Pequot Indian ancestry. First black American to be appointed a diplomat to a foreign country. Died in 1908. Interment at Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Conn.

Nicholas Joseph Begich (1932-1972) — also known as Nicholas J. Begich — of Anchorage, Alaska. Born in Eveleth, St. Louis County, Minn., April 6, 1932. Democrat. Member of Alaska state senate, 1963-71; U.S. Representative from Alaska at-large, 1971-72; died in office 1972. Alaska Native and Croatian ancestry. Disappeared while on a campaign flight from Anchorage to Juneau, Alaska, October 16, 1972, and presumed dead in a plane crash, but apparently the wreckage was never found. Cenotaph at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C. See also: congressional biography.

Philip C. Bellfy (b. 1946) — also known as Phil Bellfy — of Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County, Mich. Born, in a hospital at Detroit, Wayne County, Mich., April 7, 1946. College teacher; Human Rights candidate for Michigan State University board of trustees, 1976; Human Rights candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1976; after refusing to remove hat, arrested for trespassing in Michigan state capitol building, 1977; candidate for Michigan state house of representatives, 1978; Independent candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan, 1986; Workers League candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1988. Chippewa Indian ancestry. Still living as of 2004.

Elias Cornelius Boudinot (1835-1890) — of Arkansas. Born near Rome, Floyd County, Ga., August 1, 1835. Delegate to Arkansas secession convention, 1861; colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; Tribal Representative to Confederate Congress, 1862-65. Cherokee Indian ancestry. Died in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Ark., September 27, 1890. Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, Fort Smith, Ark.

Samuel Benton Callahan (1833-1911) — of Oklahoma. Born in Mobile, Mobile County, Ala., January 26, 1833. Served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; Tribal Representative to Confederate Congress, 1864-65; justice of Oklahoma state supreme court, 1891. Creek Indian ancestry. Died in Muskogee, Muskogee County, Okla., February 17, 1911. Interment at Greenhill Cemetery, Muskogee, Okla.

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (b. 1933) — of Ignacio, La Plata County, Colo. Born in Auburn, Placer County, Calif., April 13, 1933. Served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict; member of Colorado state house of representatives, 1983-87; U.S. Representative from Colorado 3rd District, 1987-93; U.S. Senator from Colorado, 1993-. Cheyenne Indian ancestry. Member, Farm Bureau. Still living as of 2004. See also: congressional biography.

Brad Rogers Carson (b. 1967) — also known as Brad Carson — of Claremore, Rogers County, Okla. Born in Winslow, Navajo County, Ariz., March 11, 1967. Democrat. Rhodes scholar; lawyer; U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 2nd District, 2001-; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 2004. Baptist. Cherokee Indian ancestry. Member, Phi Beta Kappa. Still living as of 2004. See also: congressional biography.

Charles David Carter (1868-1929) — also known as Charles D. Carter — of Ardmore, Carter County, Okla. Born in Boggy Depot, Atoka County, Okla., August 16, 1868. Democrat. U.S. Representative from Oklahoma, 1907-27 (4th District 1907-15, 3rd District 1915-27). Choctaw Indian ancestry. Died in 1929. Interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Ardmore, Okla. See also: congressional biography.

Charles Curtis (1860-1936) — also known as "Square Shooter"; "The Whisperer" — of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kan. Born in a log cabin at Eugene (now part of Topeka), Shawnee County, Kan., January 25, 1860; his mother was one-quarter blood Kansa/Osage Indian. Great-great-great-grandson of "White Hair" Pawhuska (Great Osage chief for whom Pawhuska, Okla. is named); married, November 27, 1884, to Annie E. Baird. Republican. Lawyer; U.S. Representative from Kansas, 1893-1907 (4th District 1893-99, 1st District 1899-1907); resigned 1907; U.S. Senator from Kansas, 1907-13, 1915-29; delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1908; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1924; Vice President of the United States, 1929-33; defeated, 1932. English, French, and Kansa/Osage Indian ancestry. Died of a heart attack, in Washington, D.C., February 8, 1936. Interment at Topeka Cemetery, Topeka, Kan. See also: congressional biography.

Alexander Dimitry (1805-1883) — also known as Tobias Guarneriius — of New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La. Born in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La., February 7, 1805. Son-in-law of Robert Mills (architect of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.); granduncle of Dracos A. Dimitry, Jr.. Newspaper editor; college professor; linguist; as a young man, took part in several duels; Louisiana superintendent of public instruction, 1848-51; U.S. Minister to Costa Rica, 1859-61; Nicaragua, 1859-61. Greek and Alabama Indian ancestry. Died in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, La., January 30, 1883. Interment at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans, La.

William Eggers III (b. 1939) — of Montana. Born in 1939. Lawyer; member of Montana state house of representatives, 1999-. Crow Indian ancestry. Still living as of 1999. John Alexander Giannetti, Jr. (b. 1964) — also known as John A. Giannetti, Jr. — of Laurel, Prince George's County, Md. Born, in a hospital, at Camp Lejeune, Onslow County, N.C., June 9, 1964. Son of John A. Giannetti, Sr.. Democrat. Lawyer; member of Maryland state house of delegates District 13-B, 1999-2003; defeated, 1994; member of Maryland state senate 21st District, 2003-. Catholic. Italian, Irish, and American Indian ancestry. Member, American Bar Association; Jaycees; Knights of Columbus; Sons of Italy; Chi Phi; Omicron Delta Kappa; Phi Delta Phi. Still living as of 2003.

William Wirt Hastings (1866-1938) — also known as William W. Hastings — of Tahlequah, Cherokee County, Okla. Born in Benton County, Ark., December 31, 1866. Married 1896 to Lulu Starr. Democrat. Lawyer; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 1912; U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 2nd District, 1915-21, 1923-35; defeated, 1920. Presbyterian. Cherokee Indian ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Elks; Knights of Pythias. Died April 8, 1938. Interment at City Cemetery, Tahlequah, Okla. See also: congressional biography.

Larry Echo Hawk — of Idaho. Idaho state attorney general, 1992-94. Pawnee Indian ancestry. Still living as of 1994.

William L. Hensley (b. 1941) — of Alaska. Born in Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, June 17, 1941. Member of Alaska state house of representatives, 1966; member of Alaska state senate, 1970. Alaska Native ancestry. Still living as of 1994.

Robert McDonald Jones (1808-1872) — Born in Mississippi, October 1, 1808. Tribal Representative to Confederate Congress, 1863-65. American Indian ancestry. Represented Choctaw and Chickasaw nations in Confederate Congress. Died February 22, 1872. Interment in private or family graveyard.

Carol Juneau (b. 1945) — of Browning, Glacier County, Mont. Born in Elbowoods, McLean County, N.Dak., April 5, 1945. Democrat. Member of Montana state house of representatives, 1999-; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Montana, 2000, 2004; member of Democratic National Committee from Montana, 2004. Female. American Indian ancestry. Still living as of 2004.

Greenwood Leflore (1800-1865) — of Mississippi. Born in 1800. Member of Mississippi state senate, 1841. Choctaw Indian ancestry. Died in 1865. Burial location unknown. Leflore County, Miss. is named for him.

Michael James Lowrey (b. 1953) — also known as Michael J. Lowrey; "Orange Mike"; "Inali of Tanasi" — of Henderson, Chester County, Tenn.; Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wis. Born in a hospital, Jackson, Madison County, Tenn., November 25, 1953. Democratic candidate for Tennessee state house of representatives, 1974; Citizens candidate for Presidential Elector for Wisconsin, 1980, 1984; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 2004. Baptist; later Quaker. Irish and Cherokee Indian ancestry. Member, American Civil Liberties Union; National Organization for Women. Still living as of 2004. Clem Rogers McSpadden (b. 1925) — of Oklahoma. Born in Oklahoma, 1925. Democrat. Member of Oklahoma state legislature; U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 2nd District, 1973-75. Cherokee Indian ancestry. Still living as of 1998. See also: congressional biography.

Robert Latham Owen (1856-1947) — also known as Robert L. Owen — of Muskogee, Muskogee County, Okla. Born in Lynchburg, Va., February 2, 1856. Son of Robert L. Owen (president of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad) and Narcissa Chisholm Owen (Cherokee Nation); married 1889 to Daisey Deane Hester. Democrat. Lawyer; banker; member of Democratic National Committee from Oklahoma, 1892-96; U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, 1907-25; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1920. Episcopalian. Scotch-Irish and Cherokee Indian ancestry. Member, Freemasons; Knights Templar; Shriners; Elks; Moose; Woodmen; Alpha Tau Omega; Phi Beta Kappa. Died July 19, 1947. Interment at Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, Va. See also: congressional biography.

Matthew Stanley Quay (1833-1904) — also known as Matthew S. Quay — of Beaver, Beaver County, Pa. Born in Dillsburg, York County, Pa., September 30, 1833. Republican. Colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War; member of Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1865-67; secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1873-78, 1879-82; delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1872, 1876, 1880, 1892, 1900; Pennsylvania Republican state chair, 1878-79; Pennsylvania state treasurer, 1886-87; U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1887-99, 1901-04; died in office 1904; Chairman of Republican National Committee, 1888-89. American Indian ancestry. Received the Medal of Honor in 1888 for action at Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862. Died May 28, 1904. Interment at Beaver Cemetery, Beaver, Pa. See also: congressional biography.

Lisa Marie Raine (b. 1969) — also known as Lisa M. Raine — of Spokane, Spokane County, Wash. Born in Xavier Hospital, Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa, May 28, 1969. Democrat. School teacher; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1996; alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from Washington, 2000. Female. Shoshone Indian ancestry. Still living as of 2003.

Benjamin Reifel (1906-1990) — also known as Ben Reifel — of South Dakota. Born in a log cabin near Parmelee, Todd County, S.Dak., September 19, 1906. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army during World War II; U.S. Representative from South Dakota 1st District, 1961-71. Episcopalian. German and Sioux Indian ancestry. Died in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, S.Dak., January 2, 1990. Burial location unknown. See also: congressional biography.

Hiram Rhodes Revels (1827-1901) — of Mississippi. Born in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, N.C., September 27, 1827. Republican. Member of Mississippi state senate, 1870; U.S. Senator from Mississippi, 1870-71; secretary of state of Mississippi, 1873. Black. Lumbee Indian ancestry. First black member of the U.S. Senate. Died while attending a church conference, in Aberdeen, Monroe County, Miss., January 16, 1901. Interment at Hill Crest Cemetery, Holly Springs, Miss. See also: congressional biography.

David Laughing Horse Robinson (b. 1955) — of Bakersfield, Kern County, Calif. Born in 1955. Democrat. Art teacher; candidate for Governor of California, 2003. Kawaiisu Indian ancestry. Still living as of 2003.

William Vann Rogers, Jr. (1911-1993) — also known as Will Rogers, Jr. — of Culver City, Los Angeles County, Calif. Born in New York, October 20, 1911. Democrat. U.S. Representative from California 16th District, 1943-44; resigned 1944; candidate for U.S. Senator from California, 1946; delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1948. Cherokee Indian ancestry. Member, Americans for Democratic Action. Died July 9, 1993. Interment at Tubac Cemetery, Tubac, Ariz. See also: congressional biography.

William Spotted Crow — of Pine Ridge, Shannon County, S.Dak. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1948. American Indian ancestry. Still living as of 1948.

William Grady Stigler (1891-1952) — also known as William G. Stigler — of Stigler, Haskell County, Okla. Born in Stigler, Haskell County, Indian Territory (now Okla.), July 7, 1891. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Army during World War I; member of Oklahoma state senate, 1924-32; U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 2nd District, 1944-52; died in office 1952. Choctaw Indian ancestry. Died in Stigler, Haskell County, Okla., August 21, 1952. Interment at Stigler Cemetery, Stigler, Okla. See also: congressional biography.

Bluford Wilson (d. 1909) — of Illinois. U.S. District Attorney for the Eastern District of Illinois, 1869-74. Cherokee Indian ancestry. He was part Cherokee, but the family kept this a secret until 1950. Died in 1909. Interment somewhere in Sangamon County, Ill.