Navajo Nation elects its first woman president as political battles loom
Summary
Crystalyne Curley won the Nov. 3 Navajo Nation presidential election, becoming the Nation’s first woman president. The unofficial result was close, and opponent Justin Jones has threatened a legal challenge. Curley will also face challenges including poverty, gaps in basic services, and debate over federal protections near Chaco Culture National Historical Park.Key Facts
- Curley and running mate Chris Deschene defeated Justin Jones and Emily Ellison, according to unofficial election results.
- Curley received 50.88% of the vote, while Jones received 49.12%, a margin of 1,115 votes.
- Jones has refused to concede and alleged irregularities, but initially gave no specific discrepancies, the Navajo Times reported.
- Navajo election law bars certification until at least 10 days after the election, allowing time for challenges.
- The Navajo Nation spans more than 27,000 square miles in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah and has nearly 430,000 enrolled members, according to June 2026 tribal figures.
- About 35.2% of residents on the Navajo Nation Reservation live below the poverty line, based on 2024 American Community Survey estimates.
- An estimated 30% to 40% of Navajo families lack running water at home, and about 10,000 families lack electrical service.
- The Trump administration is reviewing whether to reverse federal protections covering about 336,400 acres around Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which could reopen federal lands to oil and gas leasing.
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