Native Bidaské: Native Voters Could Decide the 2026 Midterms

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Native voters may once again play a decisive role in determining outcomes in key battleground states. On this episode of Native Bidaské, Native News Online founder and publisher Levi Rickert sits down with OJ Semans, Executive Director of Four Directions Native Vote Indian Country; Bret Healy, CEO of Four Directions Native Vote Indian Country; and Professor Melissa Rogers, political scientist and co-director of the Inequity in Policy Research Center.

The discussion explores Native voter turnout, voting rights, election access, and the barriers many Tribal communities continue to face when participating in U.S. elections. Guests examine how Native votes have influenced recent elections, why voter registration and civic engagement remain critical in Indian Country, and how new partnerships are working to increase Native participation ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

The panel also discusses the MOVE Project, a research initiative that measures voting access and identifies counties where Native voters encounter significant obstacles to casting a ballot. Topics include voter registration challenges, rural polling access, election administration, Tribal sovereignty, and the future of voting rights in America.

Questions explored during this conversation include:

• Why is Native voter turnout important in the 2026 midterm elections?
• How can Native voters influence election outcomes in battleground states?
• What barriers do Tribal communities face when accessing the ballot box?
• What is the MOVE Project and how does it measure voting access?
• How are organizations like Four Directions Native Vote Indian Country working to strengthen Native political participation?

Join us for an important conversation about Native voting rights, Tribal political power, election access, and the future of democracy in Indian Country.

Watch Native Bidaské live on Thursday, June 25 at 12 PM ET on NativeNewsOnline.net, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Written by Native News Online