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]
The primary election was held on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 between 18 candidates for the office of Navajo Nation President.[ 5]
Advanced to general election [ edit ] Joe Shirley, Jr. former Navajo Nation President (2003-2011), vying for a third term. 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 [ edit ] 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 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]
^ "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 . ^ "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 . ^ 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 . ^ Hickman, Jiohn (2020). " "Navajo Nation Presidential Electoral Competition" ". Canadian Journal of Native Studies . 40 (2): 27–48. ^ "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 . ^ 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 . ^ a b "Official Navajo Nation General Election Results" (PDF) . Navajo Election Administration . Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2020. ^ "Presidential and Agencywide Contest Summary" (PDF) . Navajo Election Administration . Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2020. ^ "UNOFFICIAL VOTER PARTICIPATION REPORT 2018 NAVAJO NATION PRIMARY" (PDF) . Navajo Election Administration . Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2020.