Native News
Navajo Nation Presidential Candidates Justin Jones and Crystalyne Curley Set for Friday Debate
The Navajo Nation presidential candidates, Justin Jones and Crystalyne Curley, will participate in a debate Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at the Wellness Center on the main campus of Navajo Technical University in Crownpoint, New Mexico.
Jones, an attorney, was the top vote-getter in the August primary. Curley is the current speaker of the Navajo Nation Council. The two emerged from a field of 16 candidates in the Navajo Nation presidential primary held July 21, 2026.
Jones led the field with 15,039 votes, followed by Curley with 8,424 votes.
Current Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, who was seeking a second four-year term, finished third with 7,410 votes, ending his reelection bid.
Jones and Curley will be joined by their vice-presidential running mates. Jones selected Emily Ellison, while Curley selected Chris Deschene, a former Arizona state legislator, attorney, engineer, business owner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
In an interview published Thursday by the Navajo Times, Jones described the Navajo Nation government as being in crisis. He argued that corruption, bureaucracy and the failure to enforce laws have contributed to government dysfunction. Jones has called for changes aimed at improving the government’s operations and its delivery of services to Navajo citizens.
Curley has emphasized her experience working within Navajo Nation government, arguing that understanding how the government operates from the inside is essential to making meaningful changes.
Both candidates agree that the Navajo Nation government faces significant challenges, but they have outlined different approaches to addressing those problems.
Friday’s debate will give Navajo voters an opportunity to hear directly from the two presidential candidates as they make their case for leading the Navajo Nation.
The primary determined the two candidates who will compete to become the next president of the Navajo Nation in the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
riday’s debate will be the first major general-election opportunity for Jones and Curley to address voters together as they make their case for the Navajo Nation’s presidency.
For viewers unable to attend in person, the debate will be available through NTU’s YouTube livestream and on Skyhawk Radio KCZY 107.3 FM.
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