A newly released paints a very different picture of Native American political preferences than earlier polling suggested.
The 2024 American Electorate Voter Poll, whose sponsors included progressive groups like the ACLU, got responses from roughly 9,400 people across the U.S. That included 500 self-identified Native American voters.
Early polling suggested for Republican President-elect Donald Trump. The Indigenous Journalists Association, one of several groups to criticize the methodology, 鈥渕isleading and irresponsible.鈥�
鈥淎merican Indians only represent 1 percent of the total voters surveyed, meaning that a few hundred self-identifying respondents are being used to represent the diverse interests of millions of Indigenous people across the country,鈥� their statement continued. 鈥淣one of the exit poll locations, for example, were on tribal land.鈥�
In the newly released poll, 57% of respondents said they supported Democrat Kamala Harris compared to just 39% for Trump.
鈥淣ative Americans are slightly less likely to support Democratic candidates than other racial and ethnic minorities, but much more likely to do so than white voters,鈥� said Gabe Sanchez of BSP Research, which helped conduct the survey.
As with voters across the country, the poll found that economic issues like inflation and the cost of living were key concerns for Native Americans. But sizable majorities also said they considered tribal issues like land rights, sovereignty and language preservation.
They also found strong support for abortion access, action on climate change and other progressive policies.
Sanchez also highlighted that 1 in 2 respondents said they were never contacted by any groups asking them to register or vote.
鈥淭hat's a very important indicator, because, remember, these are all voters that should be on the top of both parties鈥� lists for outreach and mobilization,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o both parties have work to do in the future to try to gain the Native American vote.鈥�
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, KUNC in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau is provided in part by the .