Field of Navajo Nation Presidential Candidates Grows To Nineteen

Nineteen candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to be president of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Times reports that current Vice President Jonathan Nez filed just an hour before the deadline. Other hopefuls include current President Russell Begaye and former President Joe Shirley, Junior. The field of 19 will be winnowed down in an August 28th primary, with the top two vote-getters moving on to the general election. The presidential election four years ago was drawn out for months because of a legal battle over the fact that the second-place finisher in the primary, Chris Deschenie, was not fluent in Navajo, a requirement under the tribe’s laws. Deschenie was ultimately disqualified and Begaye defeated Shirley in the general election. The people later voted to loosen the fluency requirement, opening the door for younger Navajos who may not speak the language as well as their elders to run for president.