Mark Charles


Mark R. Charles is a Native American activist, public speaker, consultant, and author on Native American issues, as well as a journalist, blogger, Reformed pastor, and computer programmer. He is an independent candidate for President of the United States in the 2020 United States presidential election.

Early life

Charles, the son of a Navajo father and a Dutch-American mother, grew up in Gallup, New Mexico. He is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles.

Activism and career

As an activist, Charles is known for denouncing the doctrine of discovery and for his opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Charles is a former pastor at the Christian Indian Center in Denver, Colorado. He is a consultant for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, as well as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Native News Online. Since 2008, he has written the blog Wirelesshogan: Reflections from the Hogan.

2020 presidential campaign

In May 2019, Charles announced via a YouTube video that he is running for President of the United States as an independent in the 2020 election. On August 20, he spoke at the Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum, alongside major candidates including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris.
On July 25th, 2020, he announced his choice of former Green Party Presidential candidate Sedinam Moyowasifza-Curry as his running mate.

Personal life

Charles is a Christian. He was a pastor for a Christian Reformed Church for two years.