Crystalyne Curley elected first woman president of Navajo Nation, opponent calls for recount

Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley has been elected the first woman president of the Navajo Nation, according to unofficial results from the Navajo Election Administration.

Curley and her running mate, Christopher Deschene, received 32,094 votes, compared to 30,979 votes for Justin Jones and his running mate, Emily Ellison, a margin of 1,115 votes. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Curley received 50.9% of the vote.

Election results and response

Curley spoke at her Election Night watch party at the Veterans Memorial Field House in Fort Defiance.

"And to the little girls that are out there, shíyázhí, anything is possible," said Curley. "Our daughters, our granddaughters, anything is possible."

Jones, speaking from the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Window Rock, said he is not conceding.

"We are not conceding. The fight has just begun," said Jones. "I get to subpoena you now. I get to file legal documents to show that you are cheating. We’re going to war now."

Jones called for a recount and claimed there were "dark, grey mathematical errors" in the tallies from the tribe’s 110 polling places across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. He also said his campaign would challenge parts of the Navajo Nation Code.

Outgoing President Buu Nygren congratulated Curley on social media and thanked Jones for sharing his vision, according to KJZZ.

Legal challenge

Jones’s campaign issued a statement saying it is committed to ensuring every Navajo voter’s voice is heard and that the election was conducted in accordance with Navajo Nation law. The statement cited "credible reports of procedural irregularities and compliance concerns across various polling locations."

The Navajo Nation Code states that results cannot be certified until 10 days after an election, creating a window for legal challenges and grievances.

Curley’s background and platform

Curley became the first woman elected speaker of the 24-member Navajo Nation Council in 2023. She is set to serve as the 11th president of the nation, which spans more than 27,000 square miles across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Curley said her administration’s agenda will focus on community safety and well-being, including public safety, economic growth, and mental and behavioral health. She and Deschene are working on a 100-day plan that includes fighting for water rights, according to ABC15.

Why it matters

Curley’s election marks the first time a woman has been chosen for the Navajo Nation’s top leadership post. The Navajo Nation is the largest Indigenous tribe in the United States. The outcome remains unofficial and is subject to a legal challenge and potential recount before certification.

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Sources

• kjzz.org: Navajo Nation elects first female president. Her opponent is calling for a recount
• azfamily.com: Navajo Nation poised to elect Crystalyne Curley as first woman president
• santafenewmexican.com: Navajo Nation elects first female president; opponent says he won’t concede as only 1,115 votes separate the two | Local News | santafenewmexican.com
• tricityrecordnm.com: Navajo Nation elects first female tribal president
• abc15.com: Curley projected to make history as first woman elected Navajo Nation President

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.