Sen. Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina). Photo from Facebook

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina) lost her bid for re-election on Tuesday and that could affect federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe.

Hagan easily won the vote in Robeson County, where nearly 40 percent of the population is Native. Yet that wasn't enough to put her over the top in closely-watched race against Republican Thom Tillis, the North Carolina House Speaker.

Thom Tillis Photo from Facebook

During the campaign, Tillis said he supported the tribe's recognition efforts. But with Republicans in control of the Senate, some tribal members don't believe he will be as strong of an advocate as Hagan was.

“We would be better off with Hagan,” Chairman Paul Brooks told The Robesonian before the election.

During the during the height of the termination era in the 1950s, Congress passed a law that identified the Lumbees as "Indians." But it denied them the benefits associated with federal status.

Congress passed similar bills for two tribes in Texas but has since restored their federal status. The Lumbees remain in limbo as a result.

Get the Story:
Tribe loses recognition ally in Hagan (The Robesonian 11/7)

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Tribes in North Carolina back Democrat Sen. Hagan in tight race (10/30)
Republican blames Sen. Reid for holding Lumbee recognition bill (08/15)
Senate candidates support federal recognition for Lumbee Tribe (06/25)