Sixteen file for Navajo presidency as Council turnover builds

WINDOW ROCK

Sixteen candidates, including incumbent President Buu Nygren, filed to run for the Navajo Nation presidency by the close of the 2026 election filing period Wednesday night, setting up one of the largest presidential fields in recent tribal history and signaling major turnover on the Navajo Nation Council.

The unofficial list released by the Navajo Election Administration at 10 p.m. Wednesday also showed 86 candidates competing for the Council’s 24 seats. Seventeen sitting delegates filed for re-election, while seven others either did not seek another term or filed for higher office.

The July 21 primary will narrow the presidential race to two finalists and reduce multi-candidate Council contests ahead of the November general election. Those elected will take office in January 2027 under a reapportioned delegate map.

Nygren, of Red Mesa, will defend his seat against Speaker Crystalyne Curley of Tséłání/Cottonwood, former Vice Presidents Frank Dayish Jr. of Chéch’iltah and Myron Lizer of St. Michaels, and Rock Point candidate Justin Jones, whose early campaign announcement signaled the crowded race to come.

The rest of the presidential field includes Kevin L. Cody of Piñon, Dr. Jordan Begay of Tonalea, Arvin Trujillo of Gad’íí’áí/Tókǫ’í, Debbie Nez-Manuel of Klagetoh, Tom T. Chee of Shiprock, Donovan Begay of Huerfano, Alexander Chambers of Shiprock, Emily Ellison of Chéch’iltah, Johnny Russell Jr. of Nageezi, Larry Noble of Steamboat and Andrew Curley of Houck.

Curley’s decision to run for president is one of seven developments that opened Council seats for the next term.

Six other current delegates did not file for another term. They are Carl Slater of Round Rock, George Tolth of Casamero Lake, Cherilyn Yazzie of Dilkon, Nathan Notah, Rickie Nez of Lower Fruitland and Herman Daniels Jr. of Monument Valley.

The remaining 17 sitting delegates filed for re-election, several in districts reshaped by reapportionment.

Open seats reshape key Council races

Among the most notable non-incumbent filings was Vice President Richelle Montoya of Torreon, who entered the Eastern Navajo Agency race for the seat covering Nageezi, Counselor, Ojo Encino, Huerfano, Pueblo Pintado and Torreon chapters. She will face incumbent Delegate Danny Simpson of Huerfano, whose current seat was split in reapportionment, along with Relinda M. John of Nageezi and Ben Woody Jr. of Nageezi.

Chinle Agency’s four seats drew 13 candidates.

In the Hardrock, Piñon, Forest Lake, Tsé Ch’ízhí and Black Mesa race, incumbent Germaine Simonson of Hardrock faces Bill Yazzie and Tylee Tom of Piñon, Jack Lee Begay and Perry C. Begay of Tsé Ch’ízhí, and Laurelle Sheppard of Hardrock.

Former Council Speaker Johnny Naize of Tséłání/Cottonwood was the only candidate listed for the Tachee/Blue Gap, Whippoorwill, Nazlini and Tséłání/Cottonwood seat, part of Curley’s current district before she entered the presidential race. In Chinle, incumbent Shawna Ann Claw will face Walton Yazzie.

In the Many Farms, Lukachukai, Round Rock and Tsaile/Wheatfields seat, territory now represented in part by Slater, Norman Leonard Begay, Larsen F. Nez and Bennie L. Begay of Lukachukai filed alongside Kee Allen Begay Jr. of Many Farms.

Eastern Navajo’s five seats drew 19 candidates.

In the Crownpoint, Nihodeeshgiizh, Tsé’íí’áhí, Whiterock, Lake Valley, Becenti and Whitehorse Lake race, a district reshaped by redistricting and Tolth’s decision not to seek another term, Leonard Perry of Crownpoint, Jonathan Perry of Becenti, Zachariah J. George of Whiterock and Johnny Johnson of Tsé’íí’áhí filed.

The Churchrock, Bááháálí, Iyanbito, Smith Lake, Mariano Lake and Pinedale race is notable for placing two incumbents in the same district. Titus J. Nez of Pinedale, who took the seat after Steven Arviso resigned and now represents Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake and Thoreau, will run against Lester Charles Yazzie of Bááháálí, who currently represents Bááháálí, Chéch’iltah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs and Tsayatoh.

In 2027, the redrawn map shifts Bááháálí into Nez’s area and moves Thoreau into a neighboring seat.

Also filing in that district are Leonard Francisco of Iyanbito and Melinda Arviso Ciocco of Churchrock.

The Rock Springs, Tsayatoh, Manuelito, Tsé Łichíí’, Chéch’iltah and Ramah race, a reshuffled seat assembled largely from territory represented by the outgoing Yazzie and sitting Delegate Norman M. Begay, drew two filings: Jamie Henio of Ramah and Milton Davidson of Manuelito.

In the Littlewater, Casamero Lake, Baca/Prewitt, Thoreau, Alamo and To’Hajiilee seat, incumbent Norman M. Begay of Alamo, whose current seat covers Alamo, Ramah and To’Hajiilee, will face Ira M. Vandever and Hoskie Kee of Baca/Prewitt, Mikhail Ganadonegro of To’Hajiilee and Earl Apachito of Alamo.

Fort Defiance Agency’s six seats drew 20 candidates, tied with Western Navajo for the largest single-agency field.

The Dilkon, Teesto, Whitecone, Low Mountain and Indian Wells race, an open seat after Cherilyn Yazzie decided not to seek re-election, drew six candidates: Robert E. Salabye, former Council Delegate Lee Jack Sr. and Eula C. Yazzie of Whitecone, Kurt D. James of Low Mountain, Linda Nelson of Indian Wells, and Andrienne Lister of Dilcon.

The Naschitti, Tohatchi, Bahastł’a’a’, Mexican Springs and Coyote Canyon race, another open seat with Notah not seeking re-election, drew William Nez Sr. of Mexican Springs, Elvis Bitsilly of Tohatchi, Lewnell Harrison, Cody Jansen Anaya and Harrison Plummer of Coyote Canyon, and Darryl L. Bitsoi of Naschitti.

Incumbent Vince James of Ganado faces current Ganado Chapter President Christopher D. White, also of Ganado, in the Kin Dah Łichíí’, Jeddito, Steamboat, Ganado, Greasewood Springs and Cornfields race. Incumbent Arbin Mitchell of Wide Ruins faces LaVonne Tsosie of Nahata Dziil in the Klagetoh, Wide Ruins, Houck, Tsé Si’Áni and Nahata Dziil race. In the Fort Defiance, Sawmill, Red Lake and Crystal seat, incumbent Andy Nez faces former Council Delegate Wilson C. Stewart Jr., also of Fort Defiance.

In the Oak Springs and St. Michaels race, Brenda Jesus of Oak Springs, whose tenure has included several public clashes with Nygren, will face Edison J. Wauneka, a veteran tribal lawmaker who is also from Oak Springs.

Northern Agency’s four seats drew 14 candidates. The Shiprock race attracted incumbent Eugenia Charles-Newton along with Gervana Begay, Demetria Simms and J. Kaibah Begay.

In the Gad’íí’áí/Tókǫ’í, Beclabito, Red Valley, Cove, Tsé Ałnáozt’i’í, Toadlena/Two Grey Hills and Tooh Haltsooí race, incumbent Amber Kanazbah Crotty of Tooh Haltsooí faces Dr. Christine J. Benally of Tsé Ałnáozt’i’í and Tommy Sandman of Tooh Haltsooí.

The open Niinahnízaad, Upper Fruitland, San Juan, Tsédaak’áán, T’iistsoh Sikaad and Newcomb seat, which will be vacated by Rickie Nez, drew Lynlaria Dickson of Upper Fruitland and Matthew Tso of Tsédaak’áán.

In the T’iis Názbąs, Aneth, Red Mesa, Tółikan, Rock Point and Mexican Water race, a redrawn district that absorbed Rock Point from Slater’s outgoing seat, incumbent Curtis Yanito of Mexican Water faces Greg H. Bigman, who ran for president in 2022, of T’iis Názbąs, Patterson Yazzie of Rock Point, Manuel Morgan of Aneth and Charlaine Tso of Tółikan.

Western Navajo’s five seats drew 20 candidates. In the Coppermine, K’ai’bii’tó, LeChee and Tonalea race, incumbent Helena Nez-Begay of Kaibeto, whose current seat also included Bodaway-Gap before it shifted to a neighboring district, faces Kimberlee Williams of K’ai’bii’tó and Christopher Curley and Shaquille W. Begay of Tonalea.

The Ts’ahbiikin, Naatsis’áán, Oljato and Shonto seat, which will be vacated by Daniels, drew three filings: Roland Smallcanyon, Marsha Greyeyes and Felix R. Fuller, all of Shonto.

In the Tónaneesdizí Local Government race, incumbent Otto Tso faces Daniel Williams, also of Tónaneesdizí.

The largest single Council field was in the Bodaway-Gap, Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, Tsídiito’í, Leupp and Tolani Lake seat, where incumbent Casey Allen Johnson of Cameron will face six challengers: Charlie Smith Jr. and Jerilynn Yazzie of Cameron, Loretta Tsinigine Seweingyawma of Bodaway-Gap, Marcella R. Yazzie of Coalmine Canyon, and Cornelia Carm Wagoner and Thomas Walker Jr. of Tsídiito’í.

The Chiiłchinbii’tó, Dennehotso and Kayenta race drew incumbent Shaandiin Parrish of Kayenta, Eugene Badonie of Chiiłchinbii’tó, and current Kayenta Township Manager Jarvis T. Williams and Joan A. Gray of Kayenta.

New law raises the stakes for candidates 

This election cycle is the first to operate under CJA-08-24, legislation the Council passed two years ago and Nygren signed into law to amend campaign finance provisions under Title 11 of the Navajo Nation Code. The law revises subsections 201 through 209 and 404 and adds penalties for candidates who fail to comply with reporting requirements.

Under the amendments, the permissible campaign expense limit was raised from $1.50 to $2.00 per registered voter, a change lawmakers described as both leveling the playing field and tightening accountability. Candidates who fail to file expense reports on time, exceed the new spending cap or submit fraudulent statements face disqualification from the race, along with fines and possible imprisonment.

The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors has been empowered to enforce the revised rules.

Other races also take shape 

The election supervisors board drew seven candidates for its five agency seats. Amos F. Johnson of Black Mesa filed for the Chinle seat, Wallace Toledo of Torreon for Eastern Navajo, and Watona Kellywood of Tsédaak’áán for Northern. The Fort Defiance race will pit Lenora Y. Fulton of Mexican Springs against Melvin Harrison of Low Mountain, while the Western Agency seat drew Brittany Hunt of Shonto and Shirlee A. Bedonie of Oljato.

Nine candidates filed for the Navajo Nation Board of Education. The Chinle Agency race drew Joleen M. Tapaha of Many Farms, Carolyn R. Irvin of Whippoorwill and Pamela Simpson of Tachee/Blue Gap. Eastern Navajo drew Nadine M. Chatto of Nageezi, Leslie Tsosie of Tsé’íí’áhí and Matilda George of Torreon. Kellywood also appears on the Board of Education filing for the Northern Agency, and the Western Agency race features Colbert Sherman of Ts’ahbiikin and Angelita Williams of Tónaneesdizí.

Voters in Naschitti will also decide three seats on the Naschitti Chapter Governance Commission, with Christine L. Bitsoi, Tammy Yazzie and Alexis Wood on the ballot. In Kayenta, Shonie DeLaRosa and Gabriel Yazzie filed for the Kayenta Township Commission.

The list released Wednesday is unofficial. The Navajo Election Administration has not yet certified the candidates, a process that typically includes verification of residency, voter registration and filing fee compliance before the ballot is finalized for the July 21 primary.

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