Has an American Indian ever been elected as a US Congressman or Senator?

Question

Has an american Indian ever been elected to the Senate or House of Represenatives? Has there ever been an American Indian governer?

Answer 1

You're thinking of Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell from Colorado.

Answer 2

Indians in the United States are part of its history and not its heritage that constitutes electability. We will never see them run for the presidency. Read your history, and why we have Reservations and Treaties as such in this country. It's very interesting. However, in Statewide politics you may find a few that are serving their states as assemblymen and women and state senators, you might even see how they represent their states in the House and the U. S. Senate rarely, yes.

To clarify why I say Indians of the United States history, I am not including the Indians from Mexico that claim they are part of this history and are not.

Many from south of the border attempt to claim they have a stronghold on Indian Heritage in this country and do not, they are Indians within Mexico's history alone and later immigrants who most times are illegal aliens and bear Spanish names.

I also concur with the following statement by "The Truth" with one exception, whereas Richardson is mentioned and is not a true Indian of the United States or of any of it's historical Indian Tribes, Richardson claims to be of Mexican heritage which excludes him.

Right-on.

Answer 3

Yes, but I cannot find a complete list.

The one that comes to mind it Charles Curtis the 31st Vice President of the US who served in both houses of Congress. Great-great-great-grandson of "White Hair" Pawhuska (Great Osage chief for whom Pawhuska, Okla. is named);

The web site listed below has a good list to start from

Answer 4

Yes, try Ben Whitehorse Campbell...

Answer 5

Several from the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, and I think Alaska.

Doc

Answer 6

What HE said.

Answer 7

Yes:

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 Tennesee 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.