Begay pushes health care takeover, trust land reform in presidential bid
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Jordon Begay is from Tonalea, Ariz. He is Bįįh Bitoodnii Tódích’íi’nii from Rat Springs/Wildcat Peak, Ariz., and born for Kiyaa’áanii of Tolani Lake, Ariz. His maternal grandfather is Yé’ii Dine’é Táchii’nii and his paternal grandfather is Ta’neeszahnii.
TUBA CITY
Jordon Begay, a Navajo Nation presidential candidate from Tonalea, Arizona, used a candidate forum to argue that the Nation must take ownership of its health care system, push Congress to loosen federal control over trust land and govern as one unit rather than three branches in conflict.
A Tuba City High School graduate and former federal health administrator, Begay framed his bid around what he called a “one nation, one mindset” approach to a government he described as limited by outdated codes and a budget set before a new president can touch it.
At the forum, Begay described himself as the only presidential candidate from Western Navajo. Candidate Tom Chee is originally from the Leupp, Arizona, area but now resides in Northern Navajo.
Begay is a registered voter at Tonalea Chapter and attended grade school there before graduating from TCHS in 2007. He was a Gates Millennium Scholar and said he has worked in several parts of the Navajo Nation, including Gallup Indian Medical Center and Eastern Navajo.
He pointed to Tuba City Chapter and Kayenta Township as examples of local governance the rest of the Nation could follow, and to Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation as a hub for specialty care.
To read the full article, please see the June 18, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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