A Shift in Political Allegiance Among Native American Voters
Nita Mexican, a 77-year-old retired employee from a power plant and a fervent Republican, is part of a growing trend among Native Americans who are now supporting Donald Trump, a change from their traditional left-leaning political stance.
Background on Nita Mexican and Her Community
Nita Mexican, a Navajo from Tuba City, Arizona, has observed that some of her neighbors share her views on Latino immigrants, blaming them for job scarcity and drug influx in this impoverished western U.S. region.
She believes Trump is “cleaning up America,” which she considers a positive change. Mexican, an indigenous American, asserts that the United States should come first and that indigenous people should have priority in job opportunities.
Economic Concerns and Trump’s Policies
In this isolated town where car ownership is essential, the rising gas prices are a constant worry. Mexican and her husband spend around $40 daily to care for their sheep located 40 kilometers away and support some of their unemployed grandchildren.
Mexican would like Trump to reduce tariffs on imported goods, as she sometimes struggles to afford food for both herself and her husband.
Trump’s Gains Among Native American Voters
The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S., spans Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Historically a Democratic stronghold since the 1980s, Trump made surprising progress in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump won the Navajo County by 17.1 percentage points, doubling his margin from four years prior. Although he lost the Apache County by 18.9 points, he significantly narrowed the gap from 33.6% in 2020.
Across the nation, Native American voters largely supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris but with less enthusiasm than before. More men than women voted for Trump, according to polls.
“Clientelism” and Concerns Over Trump’s Policies
Gilberta Cortés, a 42-year-old woman living without electricity, voted for Trump due to concerns about inflation and drug cartels affecting Native Americans. She feels disrespected by Trump’s mockery of Senator Elizabeth Warren, whom he calls “Pocahontas,” despite her claimed indigenous roots.
Cortés is skeptical of Trump’s laws targeting the disappearance of thousands of indigenous women, viewing them as attempts to secure their votes through “clientelism.”
She worries about Trump’s anti-immigrant stance and reports increased racism in her community, with some Navajos being arrested due to their skin color. Cortés also fears Trump’s skepticism about climate change, believing his reckless drilling and budget cuts for environmental agencies will worsen the situation in the long run.
Elbert Yazzie, another Navajo, anticipates that some of his friends will regret supporting Trump once they realize his recent law drastically reduces social assistance, contrary to their expectation of more job opportunities for indigenous Americans.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Nita Mexican? Nita Mexican is a 77-year-old retired employee from a power plant and a fervent Republican from the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
- Why are Native Americans increasingly supporting Donald Trump? Many Native Americans, like Nita Mexican, are drawn to Trump’s promises of mass deportations and his emphasis on prioritizing American jobs, which resonates with their concerns about job scarcity and drug influx in their communities.
- What are the economic concerns of Nita Mexican and her community? Rising gas prices, the high cost of caring for sheep located far from home, and supporting unemployed grandchildren are significant economic worries for Mexican and her husband.
- How have Native American voting patterns shifted? Historically Democratic, Native Americans have shown growing support for Trump in recent elections, although they still largely back Democratic candidates with less enthusiasm.
- What concerns do Native Americans have about Trump’s policies? Concerns include skepticism about addressing the disappearance of indigenous women, increased racism, and potential negative impacts from climate change skepticism.
