Jourdan Bennett-Begaye
ICT
Navajo voters chose its top two Navajo Nation presidential candidates for November, Justin Jones and Crystalyne Curley, out of 16 contenders.
Jones brought in 15,039 votes, which is 31.04 percent of the vote, according to the unofficial results from the Navajo Nation election office. Curley brought in 17.64 percent of the vote which is 8,546 votes.
Current Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren was third and unsuccessful in his run for reelection, bringing in 15.30 percent of the votes.
The results are expected to be certified by July 31, giving 10 days for any of the candidates to file appeals to the unofficial results.
Curley’s primary election success puts her in the position to possibly be the first woman elected as the Navajo Nation president. Navajo Times reported that Lynda Lovejoy was the first Navajo woman to reach the general election in 2010 against Ben Shelly.
Curley, who serves as Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, worked to oust current Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren in 2025.
She ran on the platform of safety, infrastructure, economy, preservation of culture and traditions, and a focus on veterans, elders, people with disabilities and the youth.
Jones is an attorney and veteran who is running on the platform of better housing and infrastructure, education, economic growth, improving health care, reforming outdated laws, and education.
Curley and Jones will be choosing their running mates in the days to come.
