Claudia G. Kauffman (born July 15, 1959)[1] is an American politician who is a member of the Washington State Senate representing the 47th district.

A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first Native American (Nez Perce) woman elected to the upper chamber.

[3] She lost her re-election in 2010 before making a successful return to the Senate in 2022.

She attended Cleveland High School and later studied at the University of Idaho and the Oglala Lakota College.

[2][3] In 2017, she lost a race for Seattle Port Commissioner Position 1.