2018 Navajo Nation presidential election

The Navajo Nation presidential election of 2018 was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.^[1] The candidates for President of the Navajo Nation in the general election were Jonathan Nez and Joe Shirley, Jr.^[2] Jonathan Nez and running mate Myron Lizer won the election.^[3] Although neither Nez nor Shirley were incumbents, they possessed the high name recognition associated with incumbents.^[4]

2018 Navajo Nation Presidential Election

← 2014–15 August 28, 2018 (Primary) November 6, 2018 (Run off) 2022 →
Turnout	66.53%
Candidate Jonathan Nez Joe Shirley, Jr Running mate Myron Lizer Buu Nygren Popular vote 41,261 20,751 Percentage 66.54% 33.46%
President before election Russell Begaye Elected President Jonathan Nez

The primary election was held on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 between 18 candidates for the office of Navajo Nation President.^[5]

Candidates

Advanced to general election

• Joe Shirley, Jr. former Navajo Nation President (2003-2011), vying for a third term.
  • Buu Nygren, USC student.
• Jonathan Nez, is the incumbent Vice-President of the Navajo Nation under Russell Begaye.
  • Myron Lizer, an entrepreneur at Fort Defiance, AZ/Coalmine, NM.

Eliminated in primary

• Benny Bahe
• Russell Begaye, incumbent president of the Navajo Nation.
• Tom Chee, incumbent council delegate of the Shiprock Chapter.
• Calvin Lee, Jr.
• Vincent H. Yazzie
• Rex Lee Jim, 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

A referendum for a salary increase^[6] for President and Vice-President did not pass with 39,026 votes against and 19,439 votes for.^[7]

Candidate	Running mate	Primary		General
		Votes	%	Votes	%
Jonathan Nez	Myron Lizer	14,397	28.85	41,261	66.54
Joe Shirley, Jr.	Buu Nygren	6,871	13.77	20,751	33.46
Tom Chee	—	6,426	12.88
Dineh Benally	—	5,262	10.55
Russell Begaye	—	3,939	7.89
Tom Tso	—	3,442	6.90
Hope MacDonald Lonetree	—	2,387	4.78
Alton Joe Shepherd	—	1,784	3.58
Emily Ellison	—	1,259	2.52
Calvin Lee, Jr.	—	1,217	2.44
Rex Lee Jim	—	964	1.93
Shawn Redd	—	502	1.01
Norman Patrick Brown	—	405	0.81
Nick X. Taylor	—	371	0.74
Trudie Jackson	—	230	0.46
Benny Bahe	—	160	0.32
Vincent H. Yazzie	—	155	0.31
Kevin Cody	—	126	0.25
Total		49,897	100.00	62,012	100.00
Valid votes		49,897	98.60	62,012	98.21
Invalid/blank votes		711	1.40	1,132	1.79
Total votes		50,608	100.00	63,144	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		88,007	57.50	94,916	66.53
Source: [8][9][7]

References

1. "2018 Navajo Election Calendar" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration. April 21, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
2. "Voters back Nez, Shirley in Navajo Nation presidential race". Farmington Daily Times. August 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
3. Smith, Noel Lyn (November 8, 2018). "Voters on the Navajo Nation elect president, council delegates". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
4. Hickman, Jiohn (2020). ""Navajo Nation Presidential Electoral Competition"". Canadian Journal of Native Studies. 40 (2): 27–48.
5. "Official 2018 Navajo Nation Election Candidates" (PDF). Navajo Nation Election Administration. August 15, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
6. Smith, Noel Lyn (September 11, 2018). "Salary proposal for president, vice president sent to Begaye". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
7. "Official Navajo Nation General Election Results" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2020.
8. "Presidential and Agencywide Contest Summary" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2020.
9. "UNOFFICIAL VOTER PARTICIPATION REPORT 2018 NAVAJO NATION PRIMARY" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2020.

External links

• Jonathan Nez and Myron Lizer campaign website
• Joe Shirley, Jr. and Buu Nygren campaign website