Indigenous Lawmakers Begin Orientation in Washington
Incoming members including the first Native woman elected to the Senate joined new-member training in the nation's capital.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Native American
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More than 100 newly elected members of Congress arrived in Washington, D.C., for freshman orientation this week, including several Indigenous lawmakers. Minnesota Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, is set to become the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
Why it matters
The incoming class includes Indigenous representatives from several states, with Claire Valdez of New York and Sean McCann of Michigan becoming the first Native people to represent their respective states in Congress. Their arrival expands tribal representation in the federal legislature as the 120th Congress takes shape.
More than 100 newly elected members are taking part in orientation this week ahead of the 120th Congress, which convenes after the Jan. 3, 2027 transfer of power. Alaska's Senate and House results remained pending at the time of reporting.
The players
Peggy Flanagan
Minnesota's senator-elect and a member of the White Earth Nation, set to become the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
Claire Valdez
New York's representative-elect and a member of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, the first Native person to represent New York in Congress.
Sean McCann
Michigan's representative-elect and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, the first Native person to represent Michigan in Congress.
The details
Newcomers toured the Capitol complex, learned about payroll and benefits, and attended training sessions and briefings. Members-elect also met with colleagues and took photos in the Capitol while House and Senate party caucuses prepared internal elections for new leaders ahead of the January speaker vote.
Timeline
Nov. 14, 2026: Freshman orientation for incoming members is held in Washington, D.C.
Jan. 3, 2027: The new Congress is sworn in during the peaceful transfer of power.
Legal Context
The 2018 midterm elections sent the first two Native American women, Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids, to the U.S. House. This year's incoming class continues that pattern, with Flanagan's Senate election marking a new first for Native women in the upper chamber.
Constituents in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan will have representatives who are members of tribal nations once the new Congress is sworn in. Tribal communities in those states gain direct federal representation on issues affecting them.
The takeaway
The incoming class shows that Indigenous voices are gaining seats at the highest levels of federal government. Readers following congressional leadership races can track the January party votes as the 120th Congress takes shape.
What happens next
The new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2027, when the Indigenous members-elect officially take their seats. House and Senate party leadership votes, including the January speaker vote, will follow the orientation period.
Further reading
For more on Indigenous political leadership, explore our Native American coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ICT.
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