If seven Native American candidates win their elections for the state House and Senate in November, the Montana Legislature’s American Indian Caucus could be the biggest yet.
Montana’s American Indian Caucus is an organized group of Native American lawmakers who work together to advance legislation they say is good for Indian Country, guided by the principle that what’s good for tribal communities is good for Montana as a whole. During the 2025 legislative session, the caucus had 12 members, all Democrats. That group touted historic success during the last legislative session, advancing legislation that established Indigenous Peoples’ Day, bolstered the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Advisory Council and created financial accountability mechanisms for the state’s commitment to Indigenous education.
But the American Indian Caucus didn’t always have a significant number of members. In 1995, there was just one Native American lawmaker in the state Legislature. By 2019, the caucus had 11 members, representing about 7.3% of the state’s lawmakers — close to the Native American proportion of Montana’s population at the time.
Heading into the general election this November, at least six members of the American Indian Caucus are all but guaranteed.
State Sen. Jacinda Morigeau (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) is not up for re-election and will retain her seat. Sen. Shane Morigeau (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) and Reps. Mike Fox (Gros Ventre) and Jade Sooktis (Northern Cheyenne) all ran unopposed in the primary and will not face a challenger in the general election.
Lona Running Wolf (Blackfeet), who would be new to the caucus, and who is married to caucus Chair Rep. Tyson Running Wolf (Blackfeet), ran unopposed in the primary and does not have an opponent in the general. And Natalie O’Neal (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes) beat Lance FourStar (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes), who previously directed the American Indian Caucus, in her primary for House District 31. O’Neal will not face a challenger in the general election and will likely replace Rep. Frank Smith (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes), who was a member of the 2025 caucus and did not seek reelection.
State Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy (Chippewa Cree), whose current term continues through 2008, has not responded to calls for his resignation over sexual abuse allegations.
Five American Indian Caucus incumbents, Reps. Sidney Chip Fitzpatrick (Crow), Shelly Fyant (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), Thedis Crowe (Blackfeet), Tyson Running Wolf (Blackfeet) and Donavon Hawk (Crow) will face Republican challengers in the general election.
Rep. Katie Fire Thunder (Oglala Lakota), who was appointed to her post by Gallatin County commissioners in December when a state lawmaker resigned, will also face a challenger in November, and Erin Farris-Olsen (Brothertown Indian Nation) will face a Libertarian opponent in the general election.
Keaton Sunchild, government and political relations coordinator for Western Native Voice, said he and his colleagues are “fairly confident” the incumbent caucus members will be successful in November. Farris-Olsen’s Senate race in a district that includes Helena, he added, could be “more of a toss-up.” Though Rep. Tyson Running Wolf is running a new race, this time for a state Senate seat, Sunchild is “cautiously optimistic” of his chances, especially considering the Senate district overlaps with the Blackfeet Reservation, where Running Wolf has name recognition.
If each of the seven candidates beat their opponents, Montana’s American Indian Caucus could include at least 14 members for the 2027 legislative session — the largest cohort ever.
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