Jonathan Nez

Jonathan Nez
Nez in 2021
9th President of the Navajo Nation
In office
January 15, 2019 – January 10, 2023
Vice PresidentMyron Lizer
Preceded byRussell Begaye
Succeeded byBuu Nygren
9th Vice President of the Navajo Nation
In office
May 12, 2015 – January 15, 2019
PresidentRussell Begaye
Preceded byRex Lee Jim
Succeeded byMyron Lizer
Member of the Navajo Nation Council
In office
January 9, 2007 – May 12, 2015
Preceded byHarry Brown
Succeeded byHerman Daniels
Personal details
Born (1975-05-26) May 26, 1975 (age 49)
Tuba City, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpousePhefelia Nez
EducationNorthland Pioneer College
Northern Arizona University (BS, MPA)

Jonathan Nez (born May 26, 1975)[1][2] is a Navajo politician who served as the 9th President of the Navajo Nation from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as Vice President and as a Navajo Nation Council delegate.[3][4][5]

Earlier in his career, Nez served as a council delegate representing Tsah Bii' Kin, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, and Oljato Chapters. In 2024, he won the (uncontested) Democratic nomination to represent Arizona's 2nd congressional district, becoming "the first Indigenous political candidate in Arizona to clinch a major party nomination for a congressional seat,"[6] but lost to incumbent Republican Eli Crane in the general election.

Early life and education

Nez was born in Tuba City, Arizona,[7] and attended Northland Pioneer College and Northern Arizona University (NAU).[5] He attained both a Bachelor of Science in political science and a Master of Public Administration from NAU.[5]

Early political career

Vice President Nez with fitness expert Jake Steinfeld during a 2016 award ceremony

Early in his career, Nez served as vice president of the Navajo Nation's Shonto chapter. He also served as a delegate to the Navajo Nation Council, where he represented the Oljato, Ts'ah Bii' Kin, Navajo Mountain, and Shonto chapters.[5]

In 2015, he was elected Vice President of the Navajo Nation in a ticket led by Russell Begaye. He was formally sworn into office on May 12, 2015.[8]

President of the Navajo Nation (2019–2023)

On November 6, 2018, Nez was elected President of the Navajo Nation by a margin of 33.07% of the vote versus former President Joe Shirley Jr.[3][4] Shirley had received the endorsement of Begaye and also boasted high name recognition owing to his former tenure.

As president, Nez oversaw the Navajo Nation's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By September 2021, the Navajo Nation's COVID-19 vaccination rate was higher than in most other parts of Arizona.[9]

Nez unsuccessfully campaigned for reelection in 2022, losing to challenger Buu Nygren.[10] During the campaign, Nez endorsed the legalization of same-sex marriage on the Navajo Nation.[11]

U.S. national politics

Nez was an early primary supporter of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and served on the Hillary for America Arizona Leadership Council.[12]

Nez was selected as one of seventeen speakers to jointly deliver the keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[13] He was one of the electors for Arizona in 2020 for the presidential election.[14]

On October 16, 2023, Nez announced his candidacy for Arizona's 2nd congressional district, currently held by Republican Eli Crane.[15]

2022 vehicle ramming incident

Nez and his family were nearly struck when an SUV drove through a parade in Gallup, New Mexico. In total, fifteen people were left injured. Nez later reflected on the event saying "You would think it would never happen here. I’m sorry to say it happened here in Gallup, New Mexico." and "it was a difficult time for us".[16]

References

  1. ^ "Happy Birthday to President and Vice President". May 26, 2019. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022 – via Facebook. Both [President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer] share the same birth date of May 26th
  2. ^ Becenti, Arlyssa (November 8, 2018). "Nez: Youngest ever". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Noel Lyn (November 8, 2018). "Voters on the Navajo Nation elect president, council delegates". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Becenti, Arlyssa (November 7, 2018). "Nez wins by 19,000 votes". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan M. Nez" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Donovan, Quintero (August 1, 2024). "Former president wins primary uncontested, ready to take on Republican incumbent". Navajo Times. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "President Jonathan Nez". Office of the President, Navajo Nation. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Donovan, Bill (May 12, 2015). "A number of firsts at Navajo presidential inauguration". Navajo Times. Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Ciletti, Nick (September 28, 2021). "Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez talks current state of COVID-19". KNXV-TV. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  10. ^ Fonseca, Felicia (November 10, 2022). "Challenger unseats Navajos' president". Arkansas Online. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Johansen, Kirsty (October 29, 2018). "Gay couples from largest Native American tribe call for marriage equality". SBS News. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "Native push for Bernie Sanders fails to translate into more votes". Indianz. March 24, 2016. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  13. ^ "Democrats Unveil A New Kind of Convention Keynote". 2020 Democratic National Convention. August 16, 2020. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Ducey, Douglas A. (2020). "Arizona Certificate of Ascertainment" (PDF). National Archives and Records Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  15. ^ "Former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez plans to challenge Rep. Eli Crane". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "New Mexico: several arrested after SUV drives into Native American parade". The Guardian. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
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Political offices
Preceded by Vice President of the Navajo Nation
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Navajo Nation
2019–2023 		Succeeded by