Ruth Buffalo

Ruth Anna Buffalo is an American politician who served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 27th District, serving from December 1, 2018. She is the first Native American Democratic woman elected to the North Dakota Legislature.[1]

Ruth Buffalo
Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives
from the 27th district
In office
December 1, 2018 – December 1, 2022
Serving with Thomas Beadle
Preceded byRandy Boehning
Succeeded byJosh Christy
Personal details
BornWatford City, North Dakota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children4
EducationSi Tanka University (BS)
North Dakota State University (MS, MBA, MPH)
Websiteruth4nd.com

Early life and education

Buffalo was born in Watford City, North Dakota and raised in Mandaree, North Dakota. She is an enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation.[1][2] She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Si Tanka University and three master's degrees from North Dakota State University: one in management, another in business administration, and one in public health.[1][3]

Career

Her involvement in politics began when she ran for North Dakota Insurance Commissioner in the 2016 North Dakota elections, but lost to Jon Godfread. In April 2017, she became party secretary of the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League and in July 2017, her mayor appointed her to the Fargo Native American Commission.[1]

North Dakota House of Representatives

She replaced Randy Boehning, who was the primary sponsor of the Voter ID law that voting rights advocates warned would disenfranchise Native American voters.[1][4][5] Other important issues in this 2018 race included access to health care, education (both K-12 and higher education), property taxes, and community safety.[1][2]

See also

References
  1. Astor, Maggie (13 November 2018). "Meet the Native American Woman Who Beat the Sponsor of North Dakota's ID Law". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  2. Lim, Clarissa-Jan. "Why Ruth Buffalo Was Surprised To Hear She Beat The Man Behind *That* Voter ID Law". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  3. "Architect of Change: Ruth Buffalo". Academy of Our Lady of Peace. 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  4. Reilly, Katie (7 November 2018). "A New North Dakota Law Threatened Native American Votes. They Responded By Turning Out in Historic Numbers". Time. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  5. Stern, Mark Joseph. "North Dakota's Voter ID Law Will Disenfranchise Thousands of Native Americans, Imperiling Heitkamp". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
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