The newly elected officials chose statement accessories by Native artists to mark their victories and honor their communities.
The 2026 midterm elections brought several historic firsts, including major victories for Native American representation. Democrat Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor of New Mexico, while Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota's current lieutenant governor, became the first Native woman to win a U.S. Senate seat in her state. A third potential win for the Indigenous community remained possible as Alaska's Mary Peltola led her Senate race at the time of publication.
As results were called yesterday evening, both Haaland and Flanagan celebrated their victories wearing statement earrings created by Indigenous artists. The choice served as a deliberate effort to highlight and elevate the distinctive artistry within their own communities. For many Native artists, earrings function as cultural identifiers—a fashionable means of preserving traditional materials and designs.
Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo congresswoman and former interior secretary under Joe Biden, appeared in Albuquerque wearing titanium dragonfly earrings by Pat Pruitt, a Laguna and Chiricahua Apache artist based in New Mexico. The design carried symbolic weight, representing flight, change, and transformation. The earrings also brought visibility to one of the Native community's most recognized artists.
Pruitt described the piece's origins: "The first version of the dragonfly earrings debuted in 2015, heavily influenced by the work of fashion designer Pilar Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh/Cochiti/Kewa Pueblos) and my mentor, Greg Lewis (Laguna Pueblo)." He explained that the design merged the traditional double-cross motif Lewis taught him with the bold, black dragonfly imagery Agoyo was incorporating into her work. Titanium has since become his preferred material, enabling production in various colors.
In Saint Paul, Flanagan—who belongs to the White Earth Band of Ojibwe—addressed supporters at an election night gathering wearing long, dangling dentalium shell earrings by Yurok artist Jessica Mendez, styled with a burgundy suit. Her selection similarly honored Indigenous craftsmanship. Dentalium shells, derived from a marine mollusk, feature a curved shape and milky color resembling tusks. They are valued as highly as diamonds—if not more—due to their growing scarcity. Their use in Native adornment predates European colonization, and contemporary artists including Jamie Okuma and Tania Larsson continue working with the material today.
Both politicians have consistently used their platforms to promote Indigenous creatives throughout their campaigns. Flanagan has worn printed suits by Jamie Okuma and Copper Canoe Woman earrings, inspiring a dedicated Instagram account tracking her accessories. Haaland has worn traditional ribbon skirts, notably at her 2021 swearing-in as Secretary of the Interior.
Their fashion choices reflect broader commitments to Indigenous advocacy. Both have pledged to advance Indigenous rights and amplify their communities' voices. Haaland told supporters, "I believe that no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what challenges you've faced, every New Mexican deserves the chance to thrive." Flanagan offered similar assurance: "You fought for me, and I'm going to fight for you."