2026 Navajo Nation presidential election
 | This article documents a current election. Information may change rapidly as the election progresses until official results have been published. Initial news reports may be unreliable, and the last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
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July 21, 2026 (Primary)
November 3, 2026 (Run off) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 34.48% (Primary)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2026 Navajo Nation presidential election took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, to elect the president and vice president of the Navajo Nation. The primary election was held on June 2 in New Mexico, June 23 in Utah, and July 21 in Arizona to align with each state's primary elections.[2][3] The primary election coincided with primary elections for the Navajo Nation Council, Navajo Board of Election Supervisors, and Navajo Nation Board of Education.[4] The general election coincided with elections for the aforementioned offices and federal and state offices.
Justin Jones, an attorney who previously ran in 2022, and Crystalyne Curley, the incumbent Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, advanced to the general election.[5] Jones picked nonprofit executive director Emily Ellison, who was eliminated in the primary and had previously ran in 2018 and 2022, as his running mate.[6] Curley picked attorney and former Arizona representative Chris Deschene, who had previously ran in 2014, as her running mate.[7] Jones previously represented a presidential candidate who successfully challenged Deschene's candidacy on the basis of his lack of fluency in the Navajo language, a requirement at the time.[8] Curley won in the general election, becoming the first woman elected Navajo president.[9]
Sixteen candidates ran for president, one of the largest fields in tribal history.[10][11] Incumbent president Buu Nygren, who was seeking a second term, was eliminated in the primary.[5] Incumbent vice president Richelle Montoya did not seek reelection, instead running unsuccessfully for a seat in the Navajo Nation Council.[10]
This is the first election to be conducted under tribal legislation CJA-08-24, which amended Title 11 of the Navajo Nation Code to raise the campaign expense limit from US$1.50 to US$2 per registered voter.[12]
Candidates
[edit]Advanced to general election
[edit]- Justin Jones, attorney and candidate for president in 2022 (from Rock Point)[5]
- Emily Ellison, nonprofit executive director and candidate for president in 2018, 2022, and 2026 (from Chichiltah)[6]
- Crystalyne Curley, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council (since 2023; from Tselani/Cottonwood)[5]
- Chris Deschene, former Arizona state representative (2009–2011) and candidate for president in 2014 (party affiliation: Democratic)[7]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Donovan Begay (from Huerfano)[10]
- Jordan Begay, former social worker for the Navajo Nation Division for Children and Family Services (from Tonalea)[10][13]
- Alexander Chambers, advisor for the US Small Business Administration (from Shiprock)[10][13]
- Tom T. Chee (from Shiprock)[10]
- Kevin L. Cody, tribal employee and candidate for president in 2018 and 2022 (from Pinon)[10][13]
- Andrew Curley, Associate Professor at the University of Arizona (from Houck)[10][13]
- Frank Dayish, former vice president of the Navajo Nation (2003–2007) and candidate for president in 2022 (from Chichiltah)[10]
- Emily Ellison, nonprofit executive director and candidate for president in 2018 and 2022 (from Chichiltah)[10][13]
- Myron Lizer, former vice president of the Navajo Nation (2019–2023; from St. Michaels) (party affiliation: Republican)[10]
- Debbie Nez-Manuel, candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2018 and Arizona Senate in 2020 (from Klagetoh)[10][13]
- Larry Noble (from Steamboat)[10]
- Buu Nygren, incumbent president (since 2023; from Red Mesa) (party affiliation: Democratic)[10]
- Johnny Russell Jr. (from Nageezi)[10]
- Arvin S. Trujillo, Navajo Nation executive administrator (from Gadii'ahi/To'Koi)[10][13]
Results
[edit]| Candidate | Running mate | Primary | General | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Justin Jones | Emily Ellison | 15,098 | 30.94 | 30,979 | 49.12 |
| Crystalyne Curley | Chris Deschene | 8,670 | 17.77 | 32,094 | 50.88 |
| Buu Nygren | — | 7,430 | 15.23 | ||
| Tom T. Chee | — | 4,207 | 8.62 | ||
| Andrew Curley | — | 3,354 | 6.87 | ||
| Myron Lizer | — | 2,685 | 5.50 | ||
| Arvin S. Trujillo | — | 1,714 | 3.51 | ||
| Frank Dayish | — | 1,329 | 2.72 | ||
| Dr. Jordan Begay | — | 1,004 | 2.06 | ||
| Alexander Chambers | — | 964 | 1.98 | ||
| Larry Noble | — | 707 | 1.45 | ||
| Debbie Nez-Manuel | — | 654 | 1.34 | ||
| Emily Ellison | — | 399 | 0.82 | ||
| Johnny Russell Jr. | — | 222 | 0.46 | ||
| Kevin L. Cody | — | 178 | 0.36 | ||
| Donovan Begay | — | 176 | 0.36 | ||
| Total | 48,791 | 100.00 | 63,073 | 100.00 | |
| Source: [14][9] | |||||
References
[edit]- ↑ Quintero, Donovan (August 29, 2026). "Jones, Curley advance to Nov. 3 after Navajo primary certification". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on September 4, 2026. Retrieved September 6, 2026.
- ↑ Quintero, Donovan (April 4, 2026). "Candidate filing opens as Navajo Nation shifts primary to July 21". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2026. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- ↑ "Home". Navajo Nation Election Administration. Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Certification of Candidates - 2026 Navajo Nation Primary Election" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration. April 24, 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Quintero, Donovan (July 22, 2026). "Jones, Curley projected to advance as Nygren falls short". Navajo Times. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
- 1 2 Quintero, Donovan (July 27, 2026). "Jones names former rival Ellison to presidential ticket". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- 1 2 Quintero, Donovan (July 27, 2026). "Chris Deschene returns to presidential race as Curley's running mate". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ Becenti, Arlyssa D. (July 27, 2026). "Navajo Speaker Crystalyne Curley picks Chris Deschene as running mate". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 Smith, Noel Lyn (November 3, 2026). "Crystalyne Curley, Chris Deschene win Navajo Nation president, vice president race". Navajo Times. Retrieved November 4, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Holtje, Doreen (April 28, 2026). "'The Race Is On': 16 Candidates File for Navajo Nation Presidency". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Archived from the original on May 8, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Navajo Nation Election Official List of Candidates" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration. April 24, 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ Quintero, Donovan (April 23, 2026). "Sixteen file for Navajo presidency as Council turnover builds". Navajo Times. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Benallie, Kalle (May 13, 2026). "The Navajo Nation 2026 presidential election". Indian Country Today. Archived from the original on May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Navajo Nation Primary Election Results – BOESAU-030-26" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration. August 27, 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2026. Retrieved September 27, 2026.