Crystalyne Curley Elected as First Female President of Navajo Nation

Crystalyne Curley Elected as First Female President of Navajo Nation

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Navajo Nation voters elected Crystalyne Curley, the first woman to lead the tribe, to the presidency in Tuesday’s general election. Unofficial results show Curley and her running mate, former Arizona Democratic state Rep. Chris Deschene, won by a margin of 1,115 votes. The opposing ticket, led by New Mexico attorney Justin Jones, has refused to concede and is calling for a recount, alleging “dark, grey mathematical errors” and corruption.

Historic Victory

Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley is now the president-elect. During her Election Night watch party at the Veterans Memorial Field House in Fort Defiance, she said, And to the little girls that are out there, shíyázhí, anything is possible. Our daughters, our granddaughters, anything is possible. The unofficial results from the Navajo Election Administration show Curley and Deschene secured 32,094 votes compared to 30,979 votes for Jones and his running mate, Emily Ellison.

Legal Challenge

“We are not conceding. The fight has just begun,” said Jones from the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Window Rock. “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 also claimed the tallies from the tribe’s 110 polling places across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah are too close, adding, We challenge the corruption and the criminals and the crooks of this town, and you threw every piece of bullsh—t at us. Guess what? We’re going to throw back. He promised the biggest legal attack on corruption that the Navajo Nation has never seen.

Crystalyne Curley wins election for Navajo Nation President

Outgoing President’s Response

Meanwhile, outgoing President Buu Nygren congratulated Curley on social media, wishing the president-elect and her incoming administration success. He also thanked Jones for sharing his vision. Both candidates had campaigned to unify the tribe, but the election outcome has only caused more division.

More on Crystalyne Curley

Crystalyne Curley poised to become first woman elected president of Navajo Nation
First Female President Elected on Navajo Nation, Per Unofficial Results

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