Navajo Nation voters looking for a president with vision, unity - ICT
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Navajo Nation citizens are deciding which candidates will move to the general election in November.

Kalle Benallie and Jourdan Bennett-BegayeICT

TOTAH, New Mexico — Michael Roy held his “I did this, I did that” sign outside the Totah Theater in Farmington, New Mexico, where Navajo Nation presidential candidates were informing Navajo citizens of their platforms on economic development.

“I’m kind of undecided on who to vote for, but I got to hear them out and stuff like that,” Roy, 56, told ICT. “But what I have here on my sign, I’ve heard this before way back ever since I guess the administrations that I was born into, so things never change.” He is from Cudeii, New Mexico.

Roy is one of the many Navajo voters who will go to the polls on July 21 on the Navajo Nation.

Michael Roy, 56, stands outside of the Navajo Nation presidential forum on June 24, 2026, in Farmington, New Mexico. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)

The 16 presidential candidates are vying for the top two spots to move on to the general election in November.

The primary was moved to July 21 due to Arizona’s state and county elections and will only be for Navajo citizens in Arizona. Citizens in New Mexico and Utah have already cast their votes in June. The Navajo Nation has approximately 427,000 citizens.

In the last few months, the candidates have traveled across the southwest for several presidential forums, meeting Navajo voters in urban and rural communities, and sharing their priorities.

The Farmington forum was the first time Eleanor Joe, 65, attended a forum for the Navajo Nation candidates this year.

Navajo Nation ballot examples on the wall for Navajo voters in July 2026. (ICT Staff)

Joe said she isn’t happy with current Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren but some of the candidates she heard from at the forum, she liked. They told her exactly what was going on and what they were planning to do.

She’s looking for a Navajo candidate who can tackle homesight leases, use old buildings to bring businesses to the nation, and advocate for Navajo people with mental health issues or mental illnesses.

Joe said she liked Tom Chee’s focus on the Navajo language and traditions while “Justin Jones, I think he sounds like he’s going to clean house.” She also liked that Crystalyne Curley has experience as Speaker of the House.

A Navajo elder’s soda with voting materials at the Navajo Nation presidential forum on June 24, 2026, in Farmington, New Mexico. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)

Another voter at the forum, Rita James, wants a new administration. She said the system is already set for them, “but we just need to put the right people in there.”

She’s looking for a Navajo leader with “a vision and a leader with unity.”

James continued: “We do not want any other leader that’s going to downgrade the present administration, but we want to move on with you know a president that has a credential and has a future and hope for a new administration is what we’re looking for.”

Her hope is that a Navajo woman would be the next Navajo Nation leader.

“We are at the stage where we need a woman leader,” James, 66, said. “ … because the current administration kind of disrespected the women, so her vice president doesn’t have a voice. So right now we want somebody that has a voice, a woman that can fix the problem that happened with her.”

In 2024, Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya accused Nygren of sexual harassment. The Navajo Nation Attorney General’s office is currently investigating.

James has voted for Emily Ellison the last two times she ran for president.

Rita James with Navajo Nation Presidential Candidate Emily Ellison after the Navajo Nation president forum on June 24, 2026, in Farmington, New Mexico. This is Ellison’s third time running for president. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)

Presidential nominee and current Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has faced turbulence in his position. In 2025, the Navajo Nation Council sought to oust Nygren led by presidential candidate and Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley.

In May, a Navajo Nation District Court dismissed a second ethics complaint that was filed by Special Prosecutor Kyle Nayback for alleged misuse of funds during the fall 2025 budget process. The judge ruled the complaint was better suited for the Ethics and Rules Committee rather than the court.  Nayback also filed a complaint against Nygren’s former chief of staff, Patrick Sandoval, for financial benefits from a company that was seeking payment from the office of the president and vice president.

The 15 other candidates running for Navajo Nation president are: Justin Jones, Kevin Cody, Crystalyne Curley, Jordan Begay, Arvin Trujillo, Debbie Nez-Manuel, Tom Chee, Frank Dayish Jr., Donovan Begay, Alexander Chambers, Emily Ellison, Johnny Russell Jr., Larry Noble, Myron Lizer and Andrew Curley.

  • Kevin Cody’s platform is focused on public safety, healthcare, education, local government, and  public safety.

  • Andrew Curley’s platform is no uranium mining, downsizing the president’s office, better relationship with the Navajo Nation Council, land reform, and water rights.

  • Debbie Nez-Manuel’s platform is ethics and management reform, veterans, education and public spending, protecting Navajo tradition and culture.

  • Crystalyne Curley’s platform is safety, infrastructure, economy, preservation of culture and traditions, and a focus on veterans, elders, disabled and the youth.

  • Jordan Begay’s platform is healthcare, lessening federal government input, strengthening the economy and education.

  • Arvin Trujillo’s platform is to restore the relationships between the three branches of government, support departments and divisions in the government, and build up the economy.

  • Tom Chee’s platform is building community, supporting chapters, investing in the youth, building the economy, and preserving Navajo language and culture.

  • Frank Dayish’s platform is to protect resources, agriculture, expand manufacturing, efficient housing, restart economic activity, and housing.

  • Donovan Begay’s platform is veterans and healthcare.

  • Alexander Chamber’s platform is government accountability, infrastructure, safety, energy, strengthening economy, and unifying government branches.

  • Emily Ellison’s platform is government accountability, sovereignty, infrastructure, supporting local businesses and community.

  • Myron Lizer’s platform is infrastructure, water access, energy, economic development, jobs, housing, leadership transparency, healthcare, supporting youth, and education.

Important dates and where to vote

Election results are expected to be certified after July 31. Early voting ended on July 17 for in-person voting. Voting registration has closed until July 31, after the primary.

Five election offices to vote include the Chinle Agency Election Office, the Fort Defiance Agency Election Office, the Eastern Navajo Agency Election Office, the Northern Agency Election Office and the Western Navajo Agency.

All 110 chapter houses are polling locations as well.

There are several deadlines for the general election in November. Voting registration closes on Sept. 25, absentee voting begins Oct. 5, the last day to submit an absentee ballot is Oct. 19 and the last day to vote in person is Oct. 30.

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