The Navajo Nation presidential election of 2018 was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
The candidates for
President of the Navajo Nation
The President of the Navajo Nation is the head of state of the Navajo Nation. The office was created in 1991 following restructuring of the national government. The President and Vice President are elected every four years. The Navajo Nation Pres ...
in the general election were
Jonathan Nez
Jonathan Nez (born May 26, 1975) is the 9th and current President of the Navajo Nation. He was elected in the 2018 election after having served as Vice President from 2015 to 2019.
Earlier in his career, Jonathan Nez served as a council delegat ...
and
Joe Shirley, Jr
Joe Shirley Jr. (born December 4, 1947) is a Navajo politician who is the only two-term President of the Navajo Nation. He served as president from 2003 to 2011. He lives in Chinle, Arizona, and is Tódích'íi'nii, born for Tábaahá.
Person ...
.
Jonathan Nez and running mate Myron Lizer won the election.
Although neither Nez nor Shirley were incumbents, they possessed the high name recognition associated with incumbents.
The primary election was held on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 between 18 candidates for the office of Navajo Nation President.
Candidates
Advanced to general election
*
Joe Shirley, Jr. former Navajo Nation President (2003-2011), vying for a third term.
**
Buu Nygren
Buu Nygren (born December 25, 1986) is the 10th President of the Navajo Nation. Nygren-Montoya received 34,890 votes, defeating the Nez-Abeyta campaign who received 31,339 votes in the 2022 election. He was sworn in on January 10, 2023, his ...
, USC student.
*
Jonathan Nez
Jonathan Nez (born May 26, 1975) is the 9th and current President of the Navajo Nation. He was elected in the 2018 election after having served as Vice President from 2015 to 2019.
Earlier in his career, Jonathan Nez served as a council delegat ...
, incumbent Vice-President of the Navajo Nation under Russell Begaye.
**
Myron Lizer
Myron Lizer is an American politician and businessman serving as the 10th vice president of the Navajo Nation under President Jonathan Nez.
Early life and education
Lizer was born in Ganado, Arizona. He received his Bachelor of Business Admin ...
, entrepreneur of Fort Defiance, AZ/Coalmine, NM.
Eliminated in primary
* Benny Bahe
*
Russell Begaye
Russell Begaye is a Navajo politician who served as the 8th president of Navajo Nation from May 2015 to January 2019. He was the second New Mexican Navajo to hold the Navajo Presidency.
Early life and education
Born in Shiprock, New Mexico, B ...
, incumbent President of the Navajo Nation.
* Tom Chee, incumbent Council Delegate of the Shiprock Chapter.
* Calvin Lee, Jr.
* Vincent H. Yazzie
*
Rex Lee Jim
Rex Lee Jim (born 1962) is an American politician, Past Navajo Council Delegate and Former Vice President of the Navajo Nation who served under President Ben Shelly
Ben Shelly (born July 6, 1947) was the 7th one-term president of the Navajo Nat ...
, former Vice-President of the Navajo Nation (2011-2015)
* Norman Patrick Brown
* Trudie Jackson
* Shawn Redd
* Alton Joe Shepherd
* Emily Ellison
* Tom Tso
* Kevin Cody
* Hope MacDonald Lonetree
* Nick X. Taylor
* Dineh Benally
Results
Jonathan Nez received 39,783 votes while Joe Shirley, Jr. received 20,146 votes.
A referendum for a salary increase
for President and Vice-President did not pass with 37,693 votes against and 18,802 votes for.
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{cite web
, url = http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/2018%20NN%20Election%20Timeline%20official_3.pdf
, title = 2018 Navajo Election Calendar
, date = 2017-04-21
, access-date = 2018-10-13
, publisher = Navajo Nation Election Administration
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181013202648/http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/2018%20NN%20Election%20Timeline%20official_3.pdf
, archive-date = 2018-10-13
, url-status = live
]
[{{cite web
, url = http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/2018%20NN%20Election%20Ballot%20Layout%20for%20the%20Public%208.15.18.pdf
, title = Official 2018 Navajo Nation Election Candidates
, date = 2018-08-15
, access-date = 2018-10-13
, publisher = Navajo Nation Election Administration
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181013211344/http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/2018%20NN%20Election%20Ballot%20Layout%20for%20the%20Public%208.15.18.pdf
, archive-date = 2018-10-13
, url-status = live
]
[{{cite web
, url = https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/08/29/voters-back-nez-shirley-navajo-nation-presidential-race/1138608002/
, title = Voters back Nez, Shirley in Navajo Nation presidential race
, date = 2018-08-29
, access-date = 2018-10-13
, work = ]Farmington Daily Times
The ''Farmington Daily Times'' is a daily newspaper in Farmington, New Mexico, United States. It is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. and covers northwest New Mexico and Navajo Nation. Its editor is John Moses. Gannett acquired the ''Farmington Daily Ti ...
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180830105352/https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/08/29/voters-back-nez-shirley-navajo-nation-presidential-race/1138608002/?from=new-cookie
, archive-date = 2018-08-30
, url-status = live
[{{cite news
, last = Smith
, first = Noel Lyn
, title = Salary proposal for president, vice president sent to Begaye
, url = https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/local/navajo-nation/2018/09/11/salary-proposal-president-vice-president-sent-begaye/1260194002/
, work = ]Farmington Daily Times
The ''Farmington Daily Times'' is a daily newspaper in Farmington, New Mexico, United States. It is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. and covers northwest New Mexico and Navajo Nation. Its editor is John Moses. Gannett acquired the ''Farmington Daily Ti ...
, date = 2018-09-11
, access-date = 2018-11-09
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180911182759/https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/local/navajo-nation/2018/09/11/salary-proposal-president-vice-president-sent-begaye/1260194002/?from=new-cookie
, archive-date = 2018-09-11
, url-status = live
[{{cite news
, last = Smith
, first = Noel Lyn
, title = Voters on the Navajo Nation elect president, council delegates
, url = https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/08/midterm-elections-2018-navajo-nation-new-mexico-results/1921939002/
, work = ]Farmington Daily Times
The ''Farmington Daily Times'' is a daily newspaper in Farmington, New Mexico, United States. It is owned by Gannett Co., Inc. and covers northwest New Mexico and Navajo Nation. Its editor is John Moses. Gannett acquired the ''Farmington Daily Ti ...
, date = 2018-11-08
, access-date = 2018-11-09
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181108211639/https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/08/midterm-elections-2018-navajo-nation-new-mexico-results/1921939002/?from=new-cookie
, archive-date = 2018-11-08
, url-status = live
[{{cite web
, title = 2018 Navajo Nation General Election Unofficial Results
, url = http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/General%20results/2018NNGeneralUnofficialResults.pdf
, date = 2018-11-06
, access-date = 2018-11-09
, publisher = Navajo Nation Election Administration
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181109130448/http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/General%20results/2018NNGeneralUnofficialResults.pdf
, archive-date = 2018-11-09
, url-status = live
]
External links
Jonathan Nez and Myron Lizer campaign websiteJoe Shirley, Jr. and Buu Nygren campaign website
Navajo Nation presidential
Navajo Nation elections
Navajo Nation presidential
Navajo Nation presidential