Affie Ellis (8)

Affie Ellis is a Republican politician who represented Wyoming Senate District 8 from 2017 to 2024. A member of the Navajo Nation, she was the first Native American and first Native American woman to serve in the Wyoming Senate. Notable achievements include modernizing Wyoming’s K-12 curriculum to include computer science instruction, advocating for parental rights and school safety, improving early childhood literacy, and leading efforts on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls legislation. She served on key committees such as Revenue, Education, Travel/Recreation/Cultural Resources, and as Senate Chairwoman of the Select Committee on Tribal Relations. Post-legislature, she works in government relations, American Indian law and policy at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and serves on boards including Navajo Transitional Energy Company and Wyoming Congressional Award Council.

Education and Political Experience

Ellis is a practicing attorney with experience as assistant attorney general for Wyoming, litigating environmental and public lands cases involving NEPA, Endangered Species Act, and others. Early career included roles as legislative aide to U.S. Senator Craig L. Thomas handling Indian, public lands, and housing issues; Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the National Indian Gaming Commission ; and member of the Tribal Law and Order Commission appointed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell . She founded Ellis Public Affairs, a government relations firm in Cheyenne. Elected in 2016 by defeating Democratic incumbent Floyd Esquibel, she announced retirement in 2024 after two terms.