Today, the U.S. Supreme Court moved to protect fair representation for Native American voters in North Dakota, a major victory for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Spirit Lake Nation, and the individual Native American voters who brought this lawsuit and won a trial victory only for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to rule that they had no right to sue in the first place.
This decision keeps the current fair map in place and safeguards hard-won representation for Native American voters in North Dakota while the Court considers the full case. Importantly, it also protects the voices of all voters in seven states to challenge discriminatory voting laws through Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).
Since February 2022, Native American Rights Fund (NARF), Campaign Legal Center, the Law Offices of Bryan L. Sells, LLC, and Robins Kaplan LLP have been challenging the state’s 2021 legislative redistricting plan that weakened the voting power of Native American voters in North Dakota.
After a shockingly antidemocratic decision by the Eighth Circuit in May 2025, millions of voters across seven states were at risk of losing core democratic rights. All voters should be protected under the VRA, regardless of the state they live in. To ensure today’s protection is made permanent, NARF, CLC, and co-counsel plan to file a cert petition to formally ask the Supreme Court to hear our case during their next term.
“We are relieved that Native voters in North Dakota retain the ability to protect ourselves from discrimination at the polls. Our fight for the rights of our citizens continues. The map enacted by the North Dakota legislature unlawfully dilutes the votes of Native voters, and it cannot be allowed to stand.”
— Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Chairman Jamie Azure
“Native voters have the right to vote on the same terms as all other voters. Today the Court helped protect those rights for all voters across the 8th Circuit. We will continue do whatever it takes to ensure our right to have fair representation and a voice is vindicated.”
— Spirit Lake Nation Chairperson Lonna Jackson-Street.
“The Supreme Court has rightfully halted the 8th Circuit’s decision. It is important to remember that this is not just about maps and lines. It is about whether people in my community have an equal opportunity to elect our candidates of choice. Today’s ruling helps protect our voice while we continue the fight for Native voting rights and fair representation.”
–Representative Collette Brown, District 9, North Dakota House of Representatives.
“For decades, Tribes and Native Americans in North Dakota have fought for the rights of reservation voters,” said Native American Rights Fund Staff Attorney Lenny Powell. “Today is another victory in that fight. The U.S. Supreme Court paused a decision that would strip Native voters — and all voters — of their ability to enforce their rights under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.”
More about: Turtle Mountain Chippewa v. Howe
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