Navajo Nation Election 2022: 141 candidates certified for August primary

June 3, 2022 at 11:00am MDT

141 candidates for the August 2, 2022, Navajo Nation primary election were certified by the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors (NBOES) following last month’s filing deadline. The Navajo Election Administration (NEA), which is overseen by the NBOES, released via its website (navajoelections.navajo-nsn.gov) the names and ballot orders for the upcoming election.

Presidential Candidates

Navajo voters will choose from 15 presidential candidates in the August primary election with the top two going to the November general election. The candidates and the order they will appear on the primary election ballot are below (a * denotes incumbent).

Navajo Nation President

1. Earl L. Sombrero (Ts'ah Bii' Kin)
2. Dr. Dolly Manson (Hardrock)
3. Dineh Benally (Shiprock)
4. Justin Jones (Rock Point)
5. Buu Nygren (Red Mesa)
6. Emily Ellison (Chichiltah)
7. Kevin Cody (Pinon)
8. Sandra D. Jeff (Tohajiilee)
9. Frankie (Nelson) Davis (Pueblo Pintado)
10. Jonathan Nez (Shonto)*
11. Leslie M. Tsosie (Tse'ii'ahi)
12. Ethel Branch (Leupp)
13. Greg H. Bigman (Teecnospos)
14. Frank Dayish (Shiprock)
15. Dr. Rosanna Jumbo-Fitch (Chinle)

The ballot order for presidential candidates was established through random draw by the election supervisors during their May 17 special meeting.

Navajo Nation Council Candidates

A total 103 candidates will vie for all 24 delegate seats on the Navajo Nation Council. Only one delegate seat, current Speaker Seth Damon’s, is unchallenged, bringing the number of real Council contests to 23.

By agency, the NEA released the below names and ballot orders. (A * denotes incumbent).

14 Chinle agency candidates

Chinle Chapter

• Dr. Leland Leonard
• Shawna Ann Claw
• Sharon Yazzie

Black Mesa, Forest Lake, Hardrock, Pinon, Whippoorwill

• Germaine Simonson
• Amos F Johnson
• Bill Yazzie
• Malcolm L. Logg

Low Mountain, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tachee/Blue Gap, Tselani/Cottonwood

• Kee Allen Begay, Jr.*
• Kyle L. Rockbridge
• Crystalyne Curley

Rock Point, Lukachukai, Round Rock, Tsaile/Wheatfields, Tse Chizhi

• Herman Largo
• Michael R. Chee
• Carl Roessel Slater*
• Crystal C. Littleben

19 Eastern agency candidates

Manuelito, Bááháálí, Tsayatoh, Rocksprings, Chichiltah, TséŁichíí

• Seth Damon*

Whiterock, Lake Valley, Nahidishgish, Tse’ii’ahi’, Becenti, Nageezi, Crownpoint, Huerfano

• Danny Simpson
• Mark Freeland*

Pueblo Pintado, Casamero Lake, Whitehorse Lake, Counselor, Ojo Encino, Littlewater, Torreon, Baca/Prewitt

• Daniel Augustine
• Daniel E Tso*
• George H. Tolth
• Cecil Lewis Jr.
• Leonard Tsosie

Smith Lake, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Thoreau, Churchrock

• Melinda Arviso-Ciocco
• Brenda L. Hoskie
• Titus J. Nez
• April J. Silversmith
• Judy K. Platero
• Albert Shirley
• Steven R. Arviso
• Edmund E. Yazzie*

Tohajiilee, Ramah, Alamo

• Jackie Jacqueline Platero
• Jamie Henio*
• Norman M Begay

38 Fort Defiance agency candidates

Bahastl’a’a’, Coyote Canyon, Mexican Springs, Naschitti, and Tohatchi Chapters

• Peter Watchman
• Chester Carl
• Al Damon
• JT Willie
• Willis Nez
• Harrison Plummer
• Nathan Notah
• W Mike Halona
• Larry Tsosie
• Pernell Halona*
• Rayline Charley
• Olin Kieyoomia

Cornfields, Gandao, Jeddito, Kin Dah Lichii, and Steamboat Chapters

• Vince James*
• Jack Whitehorse Jr
• Richie Nez

Crystal, Ft Defiance, Red Lake and Sawmill Chapters

• Benjamin Lau Bennett
• Harold Wauneka
• Wilson C Stewart Jr*
• Andy Nez
• Arval T McCabe

Dilcon, Greasewood Springs, Indian wells, Teesto, and Whitecone Chapters

• Calvin F Lee
• Lee Jack Sr
• Vinton Dale Yazzie
• Elmer P Begay*
• Cherilyn Yazzie
• Arthur Hardy Jr

Houck, Klagetoh, Nahata Dziil, Tse si Ani, and Wide Ruins Chapter

• Lomardo Aseret
• Sherman Yazzie
• Roland Francis Lee
• Arbin Mitchell
• Chester Roan
• Merv J Lynch
• Raymond Smith Jr*

Oaksprings and St Michaels Chapters

• Brenda Jesus
• Ernest Nez Sr
• Marilyn Yazzie
• Edison James Wauneka*
• Arthur Yazzie Sr

16 Northern agency candidates

Shiprock Chapter

• Eugenia Charles-Newton*
• Dan Smith Sr
• Debra A Yazzie
• Russell Begaye
• Richard T Begaye
• Dr J “Kaibah” Begay

Mexican Water, Tolikan, Teecnospos, Aneth, Red Mesa

• Eleanor Smith
• Davis Filfred
• Verma Y Francisco
• Charlaine Tso*
• Robert Redhouse
• Curtis Yanito

Toadlena/Two Grey Hills, Red Valley, Tse alnaoztii, Tooh Haltsooi, Beclabito, Gadiiahi/Tokoi, Cove

• Amber Kanazbah Crotty*
• Lindsey Leighann Benally

Tiistsoh Sikaad, Nenahnezad, Upper Fruitland, TseDaaKaan, Newcomb, San Juan

• Matthew D Tso
• Rickie Nez*

16 Western agency candidates

Coppermine, K’ai’Bii’To, Lechee, Tonalea and Bodaway/Gap Chapters

• Helena Nez Begay
• Paul Begay*

Tsah Bii Kin, Naa’tsis’aan, Shonto Community Governance, and Oljato Chapters

• Henry “Hank” Stevens
• Herman M. Daniels*

To Nanees Dizi Local Government

• Angie Williams
• Justice M. Beard
• Otto Tso*
• Maredith Thomas

Cameron, Coalmine Canyon, Tsidii To’ii, Leupp, and Tolani Lake Chapters

• Thomas Walker Jr*
• Casey Allen Johnson

Chilchinbeto, Dennehotso, and Kayenta Chapters

• Iverna Parrish-John
• Eugene Badonie
• Paul Madson
• Nathaniel Brown*
• Shaandiin Parrish
• Tully Begay

Notably, 22 of 24 current Navajo Nation Council delegates are seeking reelection in 2022. Current Delegates Jimmy Yellowhair (Black Mesa, Forest Lake, Hardrock, Pinon, Whippoorwill) and Delegate Eugene Tso (Chinle) are the only two delegates that will not appear on the 2022 primary election ballot.

Township & Chapter Governance Commissioners

This year, both the Kayenta Township and the Naschitti Chapter Governance will hold elections for commissioners. The NEA released the below candidate names and ballot orders.

Kayenta Township Commissioners (2)

• Shonie De La Rosa
• Jo Donna H. Ward
• Joan Ann Gray
• Chris Kescoli

Naschitti Chapter Governance Commissioners (2)

• Hoskie Bryant
• Micheal Thomas Clani
• Lincoln Nez
• Tammy Yazzie
• Alexis Wood

Navajo Boards of Education and Election Supervisors

By agency, voters will have the following Navajo Nation Board of Education (“Education Board”) and Navajo Board of Election Supervisors (“Election Board”) candidates to pick in the 2022 primary election.

Chinle Agency

Education Board

• Mary E Begay

Election Board

• Leta Honnie

Eastern Agency

Education Board

• Nadine M. Chatto
• Priscilla Benally
• Damien Augustine
• Lisa L. Hudson

Election Board

• NO FILERS

Fort Defiance Agency

Education Board

• Sharon Toadecheenie

Election Board

• Shirley M Barney
• Larry Noble

Northern Agency

Education Board

• Freda K Nells

Election Board

• William Lee
• Watona Kellywood

Western Agency

Education Board

• NO FILERS

Election Board

• Raymond Maxx
• Myra Begay

Contests & Filing Fees

There are 37 contests going into the 2022 Navajo Nation primary election. 10 contests (with more than one candidate) will automatically advance to the November general election, 5 contests feature only one candidate in the running (but will still appear on the November ballot), and 2 contests received no candidates, bringing the number of real primary contests to 20.

All candidates were required to submit their applications to the NEA by the filing deadline with an attached filing fee payment. This means the fees collected for the 141 candidates can be calculated:

• Navajo Nation President: $1,500 x 15 = $22,500
• Navajo Nation Council Delegate: $500 x 103 = $51,500
• Navajo Board of Election Supervisors: $200 x 7 = $1,400
• Navajo Nation Board of Education: $200 x 7 = $1,400
• Kayenta Township Commissioner: $200 x 4 = $800
• Naschitti Chapter Governance Commissioner: $200 x 5 = $1,000

In total, at least $78,600 in candidate filing fees were collected by the Navajo Election Administration by the time the list of candidates was certified. #

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