Navajo Nation voters elected Crystalyne Curley as their next president on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The result marks the first time a woman has been elected to the highest political office of the Navajo Nation. Unofficial results show Curley and her running mate, Christopher C. Deschene, received 32,094 votes, securing the race by a margin of just over 1,100 votes.
Curley previously made history in 2023 when she became the first woman elected as speaker of the 24-member Navajo Nation Council. A former Miss Navajo Nation, she has served on the council representing five chapters and has held roles as a senior policy advisor and director of tribal economic development. Her running mate, Deschene, is an attorney, veteran, and former state representative who directed the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs from 2015 to 2017.
During her victory speech at the Veterans Memorial Field House in Fort Defiance, Arizona, Curley described the win as an "outcry from the people for love" and a vote for a "positive direction." Her campaign platform focused on improving community safety, increasing housing and jobs, and expanding mental health support for youth. Her opponent, Justin Jones, stated he intended to challenge the election results.
For the residents of the Navajo Nation, the change in leadership will likely be noticed through the implementation of Curley’s specific policy priorities regarding public safety and behavioral health. Families on the reservation, which spans three states, may see shifts in how tribal funds are allocated toward housing projects and job creation initiatives. Additionally, the election sets a precedent within the Navajo government, which had not elected a female president since its current government structure was established.
The immediate next steps involve the formal certification of the unofficial vote tallies and the resolution of the legal challenge announced by Justin Jones. If the results are upheld, Curley and Deschene are scheduled to be sworn into office in January 2027. They will then begin a four-year term managing the executive branch of the Navajo Nation government.