Affie Ellis
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Affie Ellis
|image = Affie Ellis.jpg
|state_senate=Wyoming
|district =8th
|term_start = January 10, 2017
|term_end = January 6, 2025
|predecessor = Floyd Esquibel
|successor = Jared Olsen
|birth_name =
|birth_date = 1979/1980
|birth_place = Jackson Hole, Wyoming, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse = Dennis Ellis
|children = 3
|alma_mater = University of Wyoming (BS)
University of Colorado Law School (JD)
|signature =
}}
Affie Ellis (née Burnside; born {{circa}} 1979/1980) is an American politician who serves in the Wyoming Senate from the 8th district as a member of the Republican Party. She is a member of the Navajo Nation and is the first Native American to serve in the Wyoming Senate.
Early life
Affie Burnside was born to Jim and Lenoa Burnside, both of whom were born on the Navajo Reservation. She married Dennis Ellis, with whom she had three children.
She graduated from Jackson Hole High School. From 1996 to 2000, Ellis attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in political science and American Indian studies.{{Cite web|title=Senate District 08: Senator Affie Ellis|url=https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislators/2021/s/2031|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-25|website=www.wyoleg.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223152203/https://wyoleg.gov/Legislators/2021/S/2031 |archive-date=February 23, 2021 }} From 2004 to 2007, she attended the University of Colorado Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor.{{Cite news |title=Affie Ellis' Biography |work=Vote Smart |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/66667/affie-ellis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804115217/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/66667/affie-ellis |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=August 4, 2020 }}
Career
From 2000 to 2004, Ellis worked as a legislative aid to Senator Craig L. Thomas and was in charge of Indian, public lands, and housing issues.{{Cite news |date=January 13, 2004 |title=Jackson woman takes Indian Gaming job |page=11 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681824/casper-star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804114143/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681824/casper-star-tribune/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 }} On January 6, 2004, Ellis was appointed to serve as Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the National Indian Gaming Commission.{{Cite news |date=January 14, 2004 |title=Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the National Indian Gaming Commission |page=37 |work=Jackson Hole News and Guide |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681889/jackson-hole-news-and-guide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804114625/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681889/jackson-hole-news-and-guide/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 }} In 2010, she was appointed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to serve on the Tribal Law and Order Commission after being recommended by Senator John Barrasso.{{Cite web|last=Eagle|first=Kathryn Palmer Wyoming Tribune|title=Senators advance bill to clarify Wyoming's definition of unexcused absences|url=https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/in_our_schools/senators-advance-bill-to-clarify-wyomings-definition-of-unexcused-absences/article_4c6468b1-cb38-5872-8688-7ec31593b049.html|access-date=2021-11-25|website=Wyoming Tribune Eagle|date=February 25, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=February 16, 2014 |title=Ellis appointed |page=8 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681975/casper-star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804115015/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681975/casper-star-tribune/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 }};{{Cite news |date=April 28, 2011 |title=Ellis appointed 2 |page=44 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681972/casper-star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804115019/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56681972/casper-star-tribune/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 }}
=Wyoming Senate=
{{Main|List of Native American politicians}}
In 2016, she ran with the Republican nomination for the Wyoming Senate in the 8th district and defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Floyd Esquibel.{{Cite news |title=Statewide Senate Candidates Official Summary Wyoming Primary Election - August 16, 2016|work=Secretary of State of Wyoming |url=https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2016/Results/Primary/2016_Statewide_Senate_Candidates_Summary.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221150412/https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2016/Results/Primary/2016_Statewide_Senate_Candidates_Summary.pdf |archive-date=December 21, 2016}}{{Cite news |title=Statewide Senate Candidates Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 8, 2016|work=Secretary of State of Wyoming |url=https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2016/Results/General/2016_General_Statewide_Senate_Candidates_Summary.pdf}} She is the first Native American and member of the Navajo Nation to serve in the Wyoming Senate.{{Cite news |title=First Native American |work=Women in Wyoming |url=https://womeninwyoming.com/affie-ellis |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804115957/https://womeninwyoming.com/affie-ellis |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |access-date=March 3, 2020 }}
During Ellis' tenure in the Wyoming Senate she has served on the Revenue committee.{{Cite news |date=November 23, 2016 |title=Committee assignments |page=A13 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56682311/casper-star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804120517/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56682311/casper-star-tribune/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 }} During the 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election she endorsed Sam Galeotos during the Republican primary.{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2018 |title=Sam Galeotos endorsement |page=A4 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56682398/casper-star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200804120851/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56682398/casper-star-tribune/ |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 4, 2020 }}
Electoral history
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2016 Wyoming Senate 8th district election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Affie Ellis
|votes = 1,052
|percentage = 97.77%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 24
|percentage = 2.23%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 1,076
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party = Undervote
|candidate = Invalid votes
|votes = 269
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Affie Ellis
|votes = 3,638
|percentage = 60.66%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Floyd Esquibel (incumbent)
|votes = 2,346
|percentage = 39.12%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 13
|percentage = 0.22%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 5,997
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|party = Undervote
|candidate = Invalid votes
|votes = 285
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2020 Wyoming Senate 8th district election{{cite web|url=https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2020/Results/Primary/2020_Statewide_Senate_Candidates_Summary.pdf|title=Statewide Senate Candidates Official Summary Wyoming Primary Election - August 18, 2020|website=Wyoming Secretary of State|accessdate=28 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2020/Results/General/2020_General_Statewide_Senate_Candidates_Summary.pdf|title=Statewide Senate Candidates Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 3, 2020|website=Wyoming Secretary of State|accessdate=28 March 2025}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Affie Ellis (incumbent)
|votes = 1,120
|percentage = 64.11%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Dan Young
|votes = 623
|percentage = 35.66%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 4
|percentage = 0.23%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 1,747
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|candidate = Invalid votes
|votes = 34
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Affie Ellis (incumbent)
|votes = 4,231
|percentage = 61.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = James Byrd
|votes = 2,623
|percentage = 38.01%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 47
|percentage = 0.68%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 6,901
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate no change
|candidate = Invalid votes
|votes = 112
|percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://ballotpedia.org/Affie_Ellis Affie Ellis] at Ballotpedia
- {{C-SPAN|107107}}
- [https://archive.today/20200804115656/https://www.affieellis.com/ Affie Ellis campaign website]
{{Wyoming State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Affie}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:21st-century American women lawyers
Category:21st-century members of the Wyoming Legislature
Category:Native American state legislators in Wyoming
Category:Native American women in politics
Category:People from Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Category:Politicians from Cheyenne, Wyoming
Category:University of Colorado alumni
Category:University of Wyoming alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Wyoming
Category:Republican Party Wyoming state senators
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)