Following a major turnout dip in 2022, Native American voters are now a key target in the Montana Senate race, where their votes could make or break Jon Tester’s chances of heading back to the Hill.
The Rocky Mountains seen from a car mirror parked at the border of the Blackfeet reservation. The Blackfeet live far from any of Montana's major cities, on the eastern side of the Rockies. | Natalie Fertig/POLITICOIn 1992, a pair of Montana Native American tribes passed an unusual resolution.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., talks with constituents before a parade at Crow Fair in Crow Agency, Mont., on Aug. 19, 2018. | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images “ not one issue. It’s a combination of factors,” says He Who Rides His Horse East — known in Washington advocacy circles as Native American consultant and, planning to invest more than $1 million over the next six months. That’s nearly double the $600,000 they had to target Native voters during the 2018 campaign.
Like most tribes, the Blackfeet hold separate elections for tribal council and for county, state and federal offices. Unlike federal elections,— and getting voters to show up for both is difficult. Many prioritize the tribal election, which some local voters say they believe will yield more immediate results in their day to day lives.
But Fort Belknap tribal President Jeffrery Stiffarm says they’ve had problems with Blaine County officials keeping voting sites open long enough. Meanwhile, Blaine County elections manager Savannah Wendeln insists the county is following the agreement they have with the Fort Belknap tribe.On his way to a meeting
“That’s not my pay grade — I’m focused on policy,” Tester quips with a smile before hurrying into the Senate chamber. “Honest answer: because everyone’s crooked,” he explains on his way into the local casino, a central meeting point in Browning at any time of day. “They all say lies.” Fighting apathy takes an enormous amount of resources. That means finding funding for get out the vote programs and ad campaigns, for community events that help build momentum for Election Day and gas money for transporting voters. In Blackfeet country, DesRosier says, it’s popular to host community feeds, where voting groups or local party organizations set out trays of food, locals show up and candidates can give their stump pitch while everyone eats.
In other states like North Dakota and Arizona, Four Directions has worked to close the turnout gap between Native and white voters — with some successes. For example, through legal work and voter registration events, Four Directions registered more than 5,000 Native voters in Arizona in 2020 — nearly half ofby which President Joe Biden won this key state.
Some of that increase is being directed straight to Native voters through the Big Sky Initiative. But finding an issue that could motivate Montana’s tribes is crucial to increasing turnout in 2024, says Democratic state Sen. Susan Webber, who has worked alongside Western Native Voice on get out the vote events.
From left, Sens. Chuck Schumer , Tester, Sherrod Brown , and Martin Heinrich hold a press conference on the PACT Act burn-pit legislation outside the U.S. Capitol on June 16, 2022. | Francis Chung/POLITICOconference room in Billings, Tom Rodgers, the Native political strategist, is giving the state’s tribal leaders a simple message: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer needs Senator Jon Tester to win in order for Democrats to remain in power. And Tester needs Native American votes to win Montana.
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