Affie Ellis

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.^[1][2][3]

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.^[4] From 2004 to 2007, she attended the University of Colorado Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor.^[1][3]

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.^[1] On January 6, 2004, Ellis was appointed to serve as Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the National Indian Gaming Commission.^[2] 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.^[5][6]

Wyoming Senate

Main article: 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.^[7][8] She is the first Native American and member of the Navajo Nation to serve in the Wyoming Senate.^[9]

During Ellis' tenure in the Wyoming Senate she served on the Revenue committee.^[10] During the 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election she endorsed Sam Galeotos during the Republican primary.^[11]