The 2015 Navajo Nation Presidential Election was held on April 21, 2015, with the primary on August 26, 2014. Joe Shirley Jr. and Chris Deschene advanced to the general.[1]
 | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 37.21% | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
Originally the general election between Shirley and Deschene was to be held on Tuesday November 4, 2014. However, two former presidential candidates, Dale E. Tsosie & 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.[2] Eventually disqualifying Chris Deschene and his running mate Fannie L. Atcitty.
The special election was held on April 21, 2015, between Shirley & Dineh Benally against Russell Begaye & Jonathan Nez, who finished third in the primary election.
Candidates
editAdvanced to general election
edit- 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.[3]
Eliminated in primary
edit- 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
edit| Candidate | Running mate | Primary | General | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| Joe Shirley Jr. | Dineh Benally | 11,052 | 21.36 | 15,245 | 37.05 |
| Chris Deschene | Fannie L. Atcitty | 9,831 | 19.00 | ||
| Russell Begaye | Jonathan Nez | 7,453 | 14.41 | 25,902 | 62.95 |
| Donald Benally | — | 5,332 | 10.31 | ||
| Kenneth Maryboy | — | 3,172 | 6.13 | ||
| Edison J. Wauneka | — | 2,468 | 4.77 | ||
| Ben Shelly | — | 2,463 | 4.76 | ||
| Myron McLaughlin | — | 2,373 | 4.59 | ||
| Carrie Lynn Martin | — | 2,143 | 4.14 | ||
| Dale E. Tsosie | — | 1,292 | 2.50 | ||
| Duane H. Yazzie | — | 1,120 | 2.16 | ||
| Moroni Benally | — | 972 | 1.88 | ||
| Cal Nez | — | 598 | 1.16 | ||
| Edison "Chip" Begay | — | 550 | 1.06 | ||
| Hank Whitethorne | — | 398 | 0.77 | ||
| Kee Yazzie Mann | — | 298 | 0.58 | ||
| Dan Smith | — | 219 | 0.42 | ||
| Total | 51,734 | 100.00 | 41,147 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 51,734 | 99.40 | 41,147 | 93.17 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 313 | 0.60 | 3,015 | 6.83 | |
| Total votes | 52,047 | 100.00 | 44,162 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 111,336 | 46.75 | 118,673 | 37.21 | |
| Source: [4][5][6] | |||||
References
edit- ^ "Unofficial results of 2014 Navajo Nation presidential primary election". Navajo Times.
- ^ "Navajo Nation presidential candidate a target over fluency issue". Indianz.
- ^ "Deschene Disqualified, has 10 days to appeal". Navajo Times.
- ^ "Navajo Nation Primary Official Results" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2017.
- ^ "PRIMARY ELECTION Official Voter Participation Report" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2017.
- ^ "Navajo Nation President/Vice President Special Election Results" (PDF). Navajo Election Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 September 2020.