Kalyn Free
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Kalyn Cherie Free is an American attorney, former elected district attorney, and a tribal citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She is the first woman and Native American to be elected district attorney in Oklahoma. Free represents Oklahoma as the National Committeeperson on the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Early life and education
[edit]Free was born in Red Oak, Oklahoma. She is a graduate of Red Oak High School, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma College of Law.[1] She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.[2]
Career
[edit]Legal work
[edit]After she graduated from law school, she began her legal career with the United States Department of Justice.[3][4] At the time of her employment, she was the youngest attorney ever hired by the Department of Justice.[5] There, Free prosecuted federal environmental laws across the country with a special emphasis on tribal lands and became the first Native American to serve as a supervising attorney in the department.[6][7]
In 1998, she ran for and became the first woman and the first Native American to be elected District Attorney in the counties of Pittsburg and Haskell in Oklahoma.[2][4] During her administration, She prioritized cases involving women, children, and crime victims' rights.[5][8] In 2000, she received a Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association.[2][9]
Politics
[edit]In 2004, she was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the open House seat in the 2nd Congressional District,[4] with the support of Emily's List, the Sierra Club, and 21st Century Democrats.[5] She lost the nomination to the eventual general election winner, Congressman Dan Boren.[10]
In 2005, Free founded INDN's List (Indigenous Native Democratic Network), a political action committee dedicated to electing Native American progressive candidates at the local and state levels.[11] She personally funded the organization until its closure in 2010. During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Free endorsed Barack Obama and served as a superdelegate.[citation needed]
In 2011, Free served as an attorney and senior adviser for Bill John Baker's campaign for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, successfully helping him defeat incumbent Chad "Corn-tassel" Smith. She later advised Baker on his 2015 re-election campaign and played a similar role in Chuck Hoskin Jr.’s successful 2019 and 2023 campaigns for Principal Chief. Free has served as Special Counsel to Chief Hoskin.[citation needed]
In 2019, Free was elected as the Democratic Party of Oklahoma's national committeewoman to the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[12] Following the 2024 elections, Free announced her candidacy for Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). However, she was unsuccessful, with Artie Blanco, Malcolm Kenyatta, and David Hogg winning the positions.[13]
Writings
[edit]She contributed a letter in 2000 to the book Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters: Words of Wisdom from Multicultural Women Attorneys Who've Been There and Done That, where she wrote she was told by men they would never vote for an American Indian woman.[14] In 2007, Free contributed a chapter titled Why? Rising to the Challenge to the book Voices from the Heartland, where she reflects on her career and experiences as a Native American.[15] She also contributed a chapter What Is a Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This to volume II in 2019.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Free has been married to Steve Bruner since 2009.[1]
She has an interest in Japan and has represented the United States on trips to Japan sponsored by the American Council of Young Political Leaders.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kalyn Free, Steve Bruner wed in Tulsa ceremony". McAlester News-Capital. September 12, 2014 [December 5, 2009]. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c Podgers, James (April 2000). "Eloquent, as Usual". ABA Journal. 86 (4). Chicago: American Bar Association: 98. JSTOR 27841133.
- ^ Tebo, Margaret Graham (March 2000). Collecting Good Advice: Minority women lawyers speak as mentors in new book. American Bar Association.
- ^ a b c "Kalyn Free announces bid for U.S. Congress". Henryetta Daily Free-Lance. October 17, 2003 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Indian Gaming. Public Gaming Research Institute. 2004.
- ^ United States Attorneys Bulletin. Executive Office for United States Attorneys. 1995.
- ^ Zombory, Chris (2000). Heaping on the Honors: ABA awards recognize contributions to justice system. American Bar Association.
- ^ Collington, Jason (April 23, 2001). "District attorney fights for rights of victims". Tulsa World – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Stein, Robert A. (February 2000). "Toward a Diverse Profession". ABA Journal: 88. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ "The New Members of the House". Roll Call. November 5, 2004. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- ^ Daffron, Brian (November 22, 2006). "INDN's List founder Kalyn Free - INDN's List celebrates success after first election cycle's results come in". Indian Country Today. Oneida, N.Y. ProQuest 362625662.
- ^ Shelden, Darla (August 22, 2019). "Oklahoma Democratic Party elects Kalyn Free as new National Committeewoman". Oklahoma City Sentinel. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Tomasello, Adrianna (February 2, 2025). "DNC Members Elect New Slate of DNC Officers – Democrats". Democrats. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Myers, Jim (July 21, 2004). "Free recalls facing redneck attitudes". Tulsa World – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Free, Kalyn (2007). "Why? Rising to the Challenge". In Taylor, Carolyn Anne; Dial-Driver, Emily; Carole, Burrage; Emmons-Featherston, Sally (eds.). Voices from the Heartland. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 75–81. ISBN 978-0-8061-3858-9.
- ^ a b Free, Kalyn (2019). "What Is a Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This". In Beam, Sara; Dial-Driver, Emily; Askew, Rilla; Evusa, Juliet (eds.). Voices from the Heartland: Volume II. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-6580-6.
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