Today, I am excited to honor and announce the posthumous winner of the 2022 Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award for Political Courage, Miguel H. Trujillo. He will be rewarded at the NASS 2023 Winter Conference in Washington, D.C.

During the recent 2022 National Association of Secretary of State Conference, I nominated Trujillo for the Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award. Out of at least 50 other submissions, Trujillo was selected to be the recipient – and rightfully so.

Miguel H. Trujillo was a tribal educator and former Marine Staff Sergeant who used the legal system to fight for Native Americans’ right to vote in New Mexico. Over 70 years ago, he challenged a provision in the New Mexican constitution that prevented Native Americans from voting. He won this fight in 1948 when a District Court deemed this prohibition on Native Americans living in New Mexico as unconstitutional. To this day, Pueblo Indians credit Trujillo for winning them the right to vote.

In 2022, BIPOC communities are still fighting for their rights in a land that was once completely Indigenous. There are many reasons I submitted Miguel H. Trujillo for this award – his courage, passion and commitment to his identity just to name a few. Most of all, he fought to make democracy work for all citizens of New Mexico, which is why I consider him one of my biggest heroes.

I vow to do right by Miguel H. Trujillo, and continue this fight for a fair democracy for all.

Sincerely,

Maggie Toulouse Oliver

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