In a bold move to connect with Native voters Ruben Gallego Democratic congressman and Senate hopeful made an 8-mile trek to Supai village located at the Grand Canyons bottom. This visit part of his plan to reach all 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona underscores the growing significance of Native American voters in tight races.
Gallegos journey began in darkness and ended with him crossing a stream barefoot - a gesture appreciated by the Havasupai Tribe. “You walked in our peoples shoes when you hiked down“ Juanita Wescogame a tribal council member told Gallego. This visit marks the 20th tribe on his list showcasing his dedication to Native outreach.
The importance of Native voters in Arizona became clear after the 2020 election when President Biden won the state by a slim margin. Since then both major parties have stepped up their efforts to engage tribal communities who make up 4.5% of Arizonas population.
During his 7-hour visit Gallego immersed himself in the communitys culture: dancing with tribal members eating fry bread tacos and discussing local concerns. The tribes main worry? Uranium mining and its potential impact on their water supply.
NO! URANIUM MINING
Gallego aligned himself with the tribes stance against uranium mining stating “The uranium mining does need to be halted. It is much too dangerous for the Havasupai people“. This stance earned him support from some tribal leaders including Armando Marshall vice chairman of the Havasupai Tribe who despite being independent pledged his vote to Gallego.
Meanwhile Gallegos opponent Kari Lake a Republican and Trump ally has also made efforts to reach Native voters. Her campaign considers the Native vote “of critical importance“ and shes made several trips to reservations. However some tribal members like Bernadine Jones chairwoman of the Havasupai Tribe reported hearing “nothing at all“ from Lake or Trump.
As the election approaches (10/19/2024) both parties are ramping up their outreach. The Democratic National Committee announced a six-figure ad campaign targeting tribal communities while Republicans are focusing on economic concerns. The race remains tight with Native votes potentially tipping the scales in this crucial Senate contest