In mid‑October 2025, community advocate and tribal organizer Allison Renville announced she will run as an independent candidate for governor in South Dakota’s 2026 election.
Renville identifies as Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, Hunkpapa Lakota, Omaha, and Haudenosaunee. If elected, she would make history - South Dakota has never had an openly Indigenous governor.
From Grassroots Activism to a State‑wide Campaign
Her political journey began with activism during the protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near Standing Rock - a turning point that prompted her to become more engaged in civic and tribal issues.
She went on to found a political action committee aimed at supporting Native candidates across the Dakotas, and later engaged in local politics and organizing in Sioux Falls.
In announcing her gubernatorial run, Renville emphasized priorities that span not just tribal communities, but the entire state: housing stability in rapidly growing cities, economic development, protecting natural resources, education investment, and uplifting tribal sovereignty.
Why This Matters for Native Communities and for South Dakota
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South Dakota has one of the highest proportions of American Indian and Alaska Native populations in the U.S., yet none have held the state’s top office. Renville’s candidacy represents a direct challenge to long-standing political exclusion.
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Her background as a tribal organizer and community advocate offers a perspective grounded in Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and social justice.
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Running as an independent - outside traditional party constraints - may appeal to voters frustrated with partisan politics, offering a fresh approach centered on community voices rather than party agendas.
What to Watch For
As an independent candidate, her path will differ from traditional primaries; for now, her campaign aims to mobilize across communities - tribal and non-tribal - to build support. Key issues in her platform - housing affordability, resource protection, tribal sovereignty — resonate across urban and rural areas, giving her potential broad appeal.
The 2026 governor’s race will be watched closely. Renville’s run could reshape how Native leadership and issues are included in mainstream state politics.
