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Historic Potential for Lt. Gov. Flanagan
- Path to Governorship: Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan may soon become the first Native American woman governor in U.S. history.
- Trailblazer for Minnesota: If successful, she would also make history as Minnesota’s inaugural female governor.
- Advocating Indigenous Rights: She has initiated the nation’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office.
Peggy Flanagan’s ascent could pave a remarkable path for Native American women across America.
Vice President Harris’s Decision
Following Vice President Kamala Harris’s announcement of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election, a potential vacancy in his governorship looms on the horizon.
Should Kamala Harris and Tim Walz secure victory, or if Walz chooses to resign from his gubernatorial position to prioritize his campaign, Lt. Gov. Flanagan would step in per Minnesota’s constitutional provisions.
This transition would mark a historic milestone: she would be recognized not only as Minnesota’s first female governor but also the first Native American woman to govern any state.
A Leader Rooted in Community
Flanagan is associated with the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and holds a distinguished position as America’s highest-ranking Native woman elected to an executive role, according to her official biography.
Her journey into politics commenced back in 2002 when she contributed to former Senator Paul Wellstone’s campaign efforts, marking her entry into public service (as reported by MinnPost).
From 2005 until 2009, she became a pioneer by serving on the Minneapolis Board of Education—making history again as its first-ever Native American member.
Flanagan later embraced various roles within non-profits aimed at nurturing upcoming political leaders—including mentoring individuals like Walz—before successfully winning an unopposed race for House Representative of Minnesota in 2015.
In 2017, Governor Walz selected her as his running mate during his successful gubernatorial bid against Trump-supported Jeff Johnson with 54% approval from voters.
Commitment Beyond Politics
After being elected alongside Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan articulated her dedication towards public service during an interview with Teen Vogue:
“I have deep-rooted passion for politics and social equity,” she conveyed passionately about ensuring democracy genuinely represents various communities it serves; “This role naturally extends my commitment—I strive perpetually that everyone feels recognized and valued.”
Underlining this commitment further was Flanagan’s establishment of America’s groundbreaking Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office which offers vital support and resources tailored specifically towards families within Indigenous communities afflicted by violence—a mission deeply rooted within advocacy work (concerning office details).
Upon hearing about Governor Walz teaming up with Vice President Harris on their campaign trail ahead of them acquiring electoral success; through social media platforms—sharing sentiments grounded impeccably within friendship spanning almost two decades—she praised him affirmatively noting: “Tim embodies both resilience along with grace essential toward progress—a feat he’ll accomplish hand-in-hand continuing forward alongside Kamala.”
Efforts made soliciting comments from representatives regarding updates were met without response at time noted above.
