Now, with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday tapping Walz as her running mate, a victory against Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, would propel Flanagan, 44, to the position of Minnesota governor.
Walz's and Flanagan's current term is up for re-election in 2026. But the state Constitution allows Flanagan to assume the governorship if Walz, for whatever reason, vacates office. She would also become Minnesota's first female governor.
In a post Tuesday on X, Flanagan congratulated Walz in joining Harris.
Native Americans make up just more than 1% of Minnesota's total population, according to census data, with many living on the state's 11 reservations or in its urban centers. The Native vote helped Joe Biden secure a win against Trump in the state in 2020.
In her high-profile role, Flanagan has been outspoken in support of Indigenous rights, championing this year's change of Minnesota's state flag — the previous design had been criticized for decades for its depiction of Native Americans.
In 2016, when Flanagan was a state representative, she attended the Democratic National Convention and spoke out against then-nominee Trump, who mocked Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., by calling her Pocahontas.
"Your name is not Pocahontas," Flanagan said she told her young daughter in a letter. "You should never let any one make you feel anything less than proud of who you are. So despite everything that has happened to our people, and no matter what Donald Trump says, we are still here."
Flanagan had also been outspoken about Trump's policies when he was president. In 2020, when Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, one of his senior advisers, visited Minnesota for the opening of the nation's first task force office dedicated to solving cold cases of missing and murdered Native Americans and Alaska Natives, Flanagan took issue.
"Donald Trump made a career demonstrating and celebrating behavior that perpetuates violence against Native women and girls," she said at the time.
Since then, Flanagan helped oversee the creation of the state's first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office in St. Paul, developed to help families navigate the justice system.
"It really matters who's at the table, and who's elected," she told MinnPost in 2023. "We finally have Native representation in the governor's office and Native women in the Legislature."
However, governors with Native American ancestry remain rare: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is a member of the Cherokee Nation.
The Potential for History
The Harris-Walz campaign could also have a historic impact on Minnesota’s government. If Vice President Kamala Harris is elected president with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would be the next governor of Minnesota.
Minnesota’s state constitution dictates that if the governor’s office becomes vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the role. The president of the state Senate would then become the next lieutenant governor. In this scenario, Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion would become the first Black person to be the state’s lieutenant governor.
Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, would be the first Native American woman in U.S. history to serve as a governor.
A Dedicated Advocate for Indigenous Rights
Flanagan’s career has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of Indigenous people, particularly women and children. She is currently the highest-ranking Native American woman elected to executive office in the United States, and her record reflects her commitment to her community.
Flanagan has a history of working to improve the lives of children. She was the executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota before being elected to the state legislature. During her time in office, she has worked to pass legislation on child tax credits and free breakfast and lunch programs for public school students.
She is also a champion for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. As lieutenant governor, she helped establish the nation’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, which is designed to support families in their search for missing loved ones and to help prevent future tragedies.
Flanagan has said that the importance of representation in democracy is personal to her. “I couldn’t have ever imagined being able to see elected leaders who look like me. And for my daughter, this is simply her reality,” she said. When young people see themselves reflected in these roles, she said, “That is how we build a strong organization. That is how we build a strong party.”
Leading by Example
Flanagan is a role model for Indigenous people across the country. She has shown that it is possible to achieve success in politics while remaining true to one’s heritage and values. If she becomes governor, she will be a powerful voice for Indigenous communities in Minnesota and across the nation. She has worked to improve the lives of Indigenous people in Minnesota, and her work has earned her the respect of her peers and constituents alike.
If Flanagan does become governor, she will be a significant figure in American politics. She will be the first Native American woman to serve as a governor, and her election will be a sign of progress for Indigenous people in the United States. But more than that, she will be a leader who has dedicated her life to serving her community and fighting for the rights of all Indigenous people. Her story is an inspiration to all who believe in a more just and equitable world.
