Curley, Deschene Win Navajo Nation Presidency
Crystalyne Curley becomes the first woman elected president of the Navajo Nation, with Christopher C. Deschene as vice president.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Crystalyne Curley and Christopher C. Deschene won the Navajo Nation presidency and vice presidency, receiving 32,094 votes to 30,979 for the Justin Jones and Emily Ellison ticket. The unofficial results comprise votes from the tribe's 110 chapters.
Why it matters
Curley's victory makes her the first woman elected to lead the Navajo Nation, a significant milestone for the tribe's highest executive office. The narrow margin reflects a closely contested race across the tribe's chapters.
The Curley-Deschene ticket led Jones and Ellison by 1,115 votes in unofficial returns from the 110 chapters. Eight chapters were still reporting when the victory was celebrated, so the final count may shift.
The players
Crystalyne Curley
Curley is a Navajo Nation leader who served as Miss Navajo Nation and is in her second term as speaker of the Navajo Nation Council.
Christopher C. Deschene
Deschene is an attorney, Marine Corps veteran and former Arizona state representative who previously sought the Navajo presidency in 2014.
The details
Voters cast ballots on Tuesday, and the Navajo Election Administration released unofficial results after tabulating chapter counts. Curley, a former Miss Navajo Nation who was elected to the Navajo Nation Council in 2022 and voted speaker in January 2023, celebrated the win at Veterans Memorial Field House. Her running mate, Deschene, is an attorney, Marine Corps veteran and former Arizona state representative who sought the presidency in 2014 before his candidacy was disqualified over questions about his Navajo language abilities.
Timeline
2011 to 2012: Curley serves as Miss Navajo Nation.
2014: Deschene seeks the tribal presidency; his candidacy is later disqualified.
2022: Curley is elected to the Navajo Nation Council.
January 2023: Curley is voted speaker by Council delegates.
November 3, 2026: Voters elect Curley and Deschene.
Political Context
Deschene's 2014 presidential bid was disqualified over questions about his Navajo language abilities, a requirement that shaped the tribe's eligibility debate. His return as vice presidential nominee marks a notable reversal of that earlier outcome.
The result determines who leads the Navajo Nation's executive branch and sets policy priorities for the tribe's chapters and members. Residents across tribal communities will see the new administration's direction in governance and services.
The takeaway
Curley's election shows that the Navajo Nation's highest office can be won through a contested, chapter-by-chapter vote, and that eligibility disputes can be overcome years later.
Further reading
For broader context on how tribal leaders are chosen, see Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Navajo Times.
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