2014–15 Navajo Nation presidential election

none January 2025 August 26, 2014 (Primary)April 21, 2015 (Run off) Navajo Nation Navajo flag.svg presidential 2010 Navajo Nation presidential election 2010 2018 Navajo Nation presidential election 2018 37.21% Primary election General election Russell Begaye.jpg c0c0c0 Russell Begaye Jonathan Nez 7,45314.41% 25,90262.95% Joe Shirley 2009 (cropped).jpg c0c0c0 Joe Shirley Jr. Dineh Benally 11,05221.36% 15,24537.05% Chris Deschene Photo (cropped).jpg c0c0c0 Chris Deschene Fannie L. Atcitty 9,83119.00% Disqualified 3x4.svg c0c0c0 Donald Benally N/A 5,33210.31% Eliminated Kenneth Maryboy (cropped).JPG c0c0c0 Kenneth Maryboy N/A 3,1726.13% Eliminated President Ben ShellyRex Lee Jim Russell BegayeJonathan Nez The 2015 Navajo Nation Presidential Election was held on April 21, 2015, with the primary on August 26, 2014. Russell Begaye and Jonathan Nez, who finished third in the primary, won the election. In the primary election, Joe Shirley Jr. and Chris Deschene initially advanced to the general election.Unofficial results of 2014 Navajo Nation presidential primary election https://navajotimes.com/rezpolitics/unofficial-results-of-2014-navajo-nation-presidential-primary-election/ Navajo Times Originally the general election between Shirley and Deschene was to be held on November 4, 2014. However, two former presidential candidates, Dale E. Tsosie and Hank Whitethorne, who were eliminated in the primary election, challenged Deschene's candidacy over his fluency of the Navajo Language, a requirement to run for president.Navajo Nation presidential candidate a target over fluency issue https://www.indianz.com/News/2014/015047.asp Indianz This resulted in the disqualification of Chris Deschene and his running mate Fannie L. Atcitty. Due to the disqualification, the election was delayed to April 21, 2015, between Shirley and Dineh Benally against Begaye and Nez. History On August 25, 2014, the Navajo Nation held primary elections for the Office of President.http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/Election/2014/2014%20NN%20Election%20Timeline.pdf 2014 Navajo Nation Election Calendar Navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov 13 October 2017 July 29, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140729023241/http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/Election/2014/2014%20NN%20Election%20Timeline.pdf dead Joe Shirley Jr. and Chris Deschene had the two highest vote counts. In the weeks following, two other primary candidates sued in tribal court, invoking a never-used 1990s law that required candidates to be fluent in the Navajo language. They asked for an assessment of the leading candidates' language skills.http://www.abqjournal.com/519322/news/disqualified-navajo-candidate-appeals.html Disqualified Navajo candidate appeals Abqjournal.com 13 October 2017 January 5, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150105222828/http://www.abqjournal.com/519322/news/disqualified-navajo-candidate-appeals.html live On October 23, 2014,http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_26699556/hearing-officer-rules-against-navajo-nation-presidential-hopeful Hearing Officer Rules against Navajo Nation Presidential Hopeful USA Today dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150106060432/http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_26699556/hearing-officer-rules-against-navajo-nation-presidential-hopeful 2015-01-06 the Office of Hearings and Appeals of the tribe held the first hearing on the complaint filed against Deschene. The meeting was presided by chief hearing officer Richie Nez.http://navajotimes.com/rezpolitics/election2014/deschene-disqualified-10-days-appeal/ Deschene disqualified, has 10 days to appeal Navajo Times 9 October 2014 January 5, 2015 January 5, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150105214023/http://navajotimes.com/rezpolitics/election2014/deschene-disqualified-10-days-appeal/ live The court body ruled in favor of Dale Tsosiehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/27/navajo-presidential-election-remains-in-limbo/ Navajo presidential election remains in limbo The Washington Times January 5, 2015 January 10, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150110125702/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/27/navajo-presidential-election-remains-in-limbo/ live and Hank Whitethorne, the former primary candidates, and issued a default ruling against Deschene, who had refused to participate in assessment. Later that day, the Navajo Supreme Court, in a special session on the matter, enforced the ruling from the lower Court body and ordered that the Navajo government remove Deschene from the presidential ballot because of his lack of Navajo language skills.https://news.yahoo.com/disqualified-tribal-candidate-persists-campaign-073051346--politics.html Navajo high court orders election postponed 24 October 2014 Yahoo! News January 14, 2017 March 5, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305115155/http://news.yahoo.com/disqualified-tribal-candidate-persists-campaign-073051346--politics.html live The High Court ruled that the presidential election scheduled for November 4 (12 days later) would be postponed, and ordered that it be held by the end of January 2015. Chief Justice Herb Yazziehttp://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/25/deschene-out-navajo-election-presidential-vote-looks-be-postponed-157526 Deschene Out of Navajo Election, Presidential Vote Looks to Be Postponed Indian Country Today Media Network 2015-01-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20150107142911/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/10/25/deschene-out-navajo-election-presidential-vote-looks-be-postponed-157526 2015-01-07 dead and Associate Justice Eleanor Shirley ruled for the 2–1 majority; Justice Irene Black wrote in her dissent that the technicality must be sent back to the lower court for correction there. The decision did not outline who would act as executive at the end of the current president's term (January 2015). In the early hours of October 24, 2014 the Navajo Council passed legislative Bill 0298-14https://www.indianz.com/News/2014/015447.asp Navajo Nation candidate Chris Deschene won't halt campaign Indianz January 5, 2015 October 26, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141026221320/http://indianz.com/News/2014/015447.asp live amending the Navajo Nation Code. The legislation repealed the language requirement of the qualifications sections for president. This enabled Chris Deschene's participation in the election."Navajo Nation Council passes emergency language requirement repeal" https://web.archive.org/web/20150215183801/http://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2014/10/23/navajo-nation-council-passes-emergency-president-language-fluency-requirement-repeal/#ixzz3H5jWFAxF February 15, 2015 . Arizona Capitol Times. October 23, 2014. Accessed February 15, 2015. The following Monday, the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors (NBES) met but took no action to implement the court directives. Counsel for NBES motioned the High Court for further instruction. The next day, the Navajo Nation Election Board commissioner, Wallace Charley (joined later by Kimmeth Yazzie, Navajo Election Administration) announced that Deschene's name would remain on the ballot.http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/359902026/navajo-nation-presidential-candidate-suspends-campaign Navajo Nation Presidential Candidate Suspends Campaign 13 October 2017 January 6, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150106064752/http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/359902026/navajo-nation-presidential-candidate-suspends-campaign live Though he had vowed to continue, Deschene resigned from the race on October 30.https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/10/30/359902026/navajo-nation-presidential-candidate-suspends-campaign Navajo Nation Presidential Candidate Suspends Campaign NPR 30 October 2014 13 October 2017 Ahtone Tristan May 9, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150509133122/http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/10/30/359902026/navajo-nation-presidential-candidate-suspends-campaign live On October 29, Navajo President Ben Shelly vetoed the bill repealing the language requirement.http://blogforarizona.net/navajo-president-vetoes-bill-navajo-nation-election-still-in-doubt/ Navajo President vetoes bill, Navajo Nation election still in doubt Blog for Arizona 29 October 2014 January 5, 2015 October 29, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141029224932/http://blogforarizona.net/navajo-president-vetoes-bill-navajo-nation-election-still-in-doubt/ live The Navajo general election was held. Joe Shirley Jr. had the majority of votes by the unofficial tally. The Navajo Council scheduled a primary and general election for June and August 2015.http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/3845d8538e394b10b8a1f54232c1c942/NM--Navajo-President-Election Bill OK'd for special election for Navajo presidency; dates would be after court-set deadline Associated Press January 1, 2015 2015-01-05 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150105222627/http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/3845d8538e394b10b8a1f54232c1c942/NM--Navajo-President-Election 2015-01-05 On Monday, January 5, 2015, President Shelly vetoed the language fluency bill.http://www.navajopost.org/2015/01/05/navajo-president-rejects-language-fluency-bill/ Navajo Post Newspaper usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20150105213501/http://www.navajopost.org/2015/01/05/navajo-president-rejects-language-fluency-bill/ 2015-01-05 On January 7, five assistant attorneys-general filed petition with the Navajo Nation Supreme Court for clarification on the question of the presidential vacancy issue. Through a controversial agreement and resolution, the Court and the Council appointed Ben Shelly to act as interim President.http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_27297839/navajo-nation-president-ben-shelly-remain-office Navajo Nation President to Remain in Office USA Today dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150730053154/http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_27297839/navajo-nation-president-ben-shelly-remain-office 2015-07-30 In the special election, businessman Russell Begaye was elected as president and Jonathan Nez as vice-president. In May 2015, they were sworn in. Begaye supports encouraging native language use among the Navajo, who have the most members of nearly any tribe who speak their native language. Approximately half of the Nation's 340,000 members speak Navajo. Begaye came to office supporting the Grand Canyon Escalade, a proposed project to increase tourism at the canyon, as well as initiatives to develop a rail port to export crops and coal from the reservation and to pursue clean coal technology."Navajo Nation president sworn in after contentious race" https://web.archive.org/web/20161220110804/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/12/navajo-nation-president-sworn-in-after-disputed-election.html December 20, 2016 . Al-Jazeera (US). 12 May 2015. Accessed 12 December 2016. Candidates Advanced to general election Joe Shirley Jr. former Navajo Nation President (2003–2011), vying for a third term. Dineh Benally. Chris Deschene, Marine Veteran & former AZ State House of Representatives.** Fannie L. Atcitty, Navajo lifelong educator and community organizer.** Russell Begaye, incumbent Council Delegate of the Shiprock Chapter, advanced through disqualification of Deschene-Atcitty campaign. Jonathan Nez, incumbent Council Delegate of the Ts'ah Bii Kin, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, & Oljato Chapters. **Disqualified on October 9, 2014.Deschene Disqualified, has 10 days to appeal https://navajotimes.com/politics/election2014/100914disqualified.php Navajo Times Eliminated in primary Russell Begaye, incumbent Council Delegate of the Navajo Nation (Shiprock). Donald Benally Kenneth Maryboy Edison Wauneka Ben Shelly, incumbent President of the Navajo Nation. Myron McLaughlin Carrie Lynn Martin Dale E. Tsosie Duane H. Yazzie Moroni Benally Cal Nez Edison "Chip" Begay Hank Whitethorne Kee Yazzie Mann Dan Smith Results Primary General Joe Shirley Jr. Dineh Benally 11052 15245 Chris Deschene Fannie L. Atcitty 9831 Russell Begaye Jonathan Nez 7453 25902 Donald Benally — 5332 Kenneth Maryboy — 3172 Edison J. Wauneka — 2468 Ben Shelly — 2463 Myron McLaughlin — 2373 Carrie Lynn Martin — 2143 Dale E. Tsosie — 1292 Duane H. Yazzie — 1120 Moroni Benally — 972 Cal Nez — 598 Edison "Chip" Begay — 550 Hank Whitethorne — 398 Kee Yazzie Mann — 298 Dan Smith — 219 313 3015 111336 118673 Navajo Nation Primary Official Results http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/Election/2014ElectionResults/Primary/Official/2014%20Primary%20Official%20Results%20-%20Presidential%20Detail.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20170130212105/http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/Election/2014ElectionResults/Primary/Official/2014%20Primary%20Official%20Results%20-%20Presidential%20Detail.pdf 30 January 2017 Navajo Election AdministrationPRIMARY ELECTION Official Voter Participation Report http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/Election/2014ElectionResults/Primary/Official/2014%20Primary%20Official%20Results%20-%20Voter%20Participation.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20170125020806/http://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/Election/2014ElectionResults/Primary/Official/2014%20Primary%20Official%20Results%20-%20Voter%20Participation.pdf 25 January 2017 Navajo Election AdministrationNavajo Nation President/Vice President Special Election Results https://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/Document%20(4).pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20200908050724/https://www.navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov/pdfs/2018/Document%20(4).pdf 8 September 2020 Navajo Election Administration References Category:Navajo Nation elections Navajo Category:2015 tribal elections in the United States Category:2014 tribal elections in the United States