Jones, Curley projected to advance as Nygren falls short

WINDOW ROCK

Justin Jones and Speaker Crystalyne Curley are projected to advance to the November general election for Navajo Nation president.

Jones led the 16-candidate primary field Tuesday with 15,039 votes, or 31.04%, according to unofficial results from 79 of 110 chapters.

Curley held second place with 8,546 votes, or 17.64%. She led President Buu Nygren by 1,136 votes. Nygren received 7,410 votes, or 15.30%.

“President Nygren just called me, and he did concede and congratulated us on the win,” Jones said Tuesday night.

“They don’t want the Window Rock establishment anymore. They want new faces, new ideas, new talent,” he said.

Jones called for greater accountability and transparency.

“It just didn’t start three years ago. It’s been here for quite some time,” he said, referring to misconduct and abuse of power in the Navajo Nation government.

“My campaign was never really about aggression or being angry. I know people are frustrated with how our government is functioning. However, we need to see that unity. We need to see that collaboration,” Curley said.

Her priorities included children, single parents, domestic violence and violence against elders and people with disabilities.

The Fish Point, Arizona, native ran a low-cost campaign while serving as speaker and raised money largely through food sales.

“I don’t know how many fry bread I’ve made. Cutting lettuce, making hamburgers, grilling,” she said. “And I was doing all of that and running to Council at the same time.”

Curley could become the first woman elected Navajo Nation president. Lynda Lovejoy was the first woman to reach the general election for president in 2010, when she lost to the late Ben Shelly.

“It was very unfortunate that some of the candidates did express that to me publicly or in person,” Curley said of comments that women should not lead.

“For me, it was not about a man versus a woman. For me, it’s about experience,” she said, pointing to her work on water rights, her education and two terms as speaker.

Curley said women in male-dominated fields often must work harder to prove they can meet or exceed expectations.

Jones, who calls Curley his paternal grandmother through k’é, rejected gender as a test for the presidency.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re female or male,” he said. “Who will be the best person to deliver for the Navajo Nation?”

Curley also raised concerns about the financial challenges the next administration will inherit as federal pandemic recovery money runs out and revenues decline. She said people want economic opportunities beyond energy development and that addressing those challenges will require collaboration.

“It’s not going to be one leader dictating what’s going to happen. It’s a collaboration,” she said. “And that’s what I want to bring back to the table to the Office of the President and Vice President.”

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