The Navajo Nation presidential election of 2010 was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Ben Shelly won the election.
The general election was held between New Mexico State Senator Lynda Lovejoy and outgoing Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly.
The primary election was held on August 3, 2010. Lynda Lovejoy won a plurality of the vote, becoming the first woman to do so. Ben Shelly came in second place. The primary election included nine other candidates. This was the first Navajo Nation presidential election in which both candidates, Lovejoy and Shelly, were residents of the Eastern part of the Navajo Nation.
Ben Shelly became the first Vice President of the Navajo Nation to be elected president. Had she been elected, Lynda Lovejoy would have become the first female president of the Navajo Nation.
Previously, during the 2006 presidential election Joe Shirley Jr. had been re-elected to a second term over challenger Lynda Lovejoy. On July 9, 2010, the Navajo Nation Supreme Court ruled that Shirley could not seek a third consecutive term as president.
Candidates
General election
Lynda Lovejoy, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, New Mexico State Senator, District 22
Earl Tulley, chosen as Lovejoy's running mate for Vice President on August 8, 2010, activist and administrator.
Ben Shelly of Thoreau, New Mexico, Vice President of the Navajo Nation
Rex Lee Jim, chosen as Shelly's running mate for Vice President on August 8, 2010.
Announced and defeated in primary
Anthony Begay, of Mariano Lake, New Mexico, Mariano Lake Chapter President
Donald Benally, of Shiprock, New Mexico, Shiprock Chapter Vice-President
Sharon Clahchischilliage, of Cudeii, New Mexico, Fmr. Navajo-Washington Office Director Rex Lee Jim, of Rock Point, Arizona Navajo Nation Council Arbin Mitchell, of Wide Ruins, Arizona, Executive Director of Navajo Nation Division of Community Development Daniel Peaches, of Kayenta, Arizona, Fmr. Kayenta Chapter Council Delegate, Kayenta Town Manager, Staff Assistant to Fmr. Chairman Peter MacDonald Sr. Jerry Todacheenie, of Shiprock, New Mexico, BHP Employee and member of Shiprock Fair Board D. Harrison Tsosie, of Dennehotso, Arizona, Navajo Nation Deputy Attorney General Dale Tsosie, of Lechee, Arizona, Navajo Citizen
Not Running
Lawrence T. Morgan, of Pinedale, New Mexico, Navajo Nation council Speaker
Term limited
Joe Shirley Jr., of Chinle, Arizona, incumbent President of the Navajo Nation
Primary election
State Senator Lynda Lovejoy, who unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 2006, easily defeated eleven other candidates with 17,137 votes, becoming the first woman to win a Navajo Nation presidential primary. Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly came in second place and qualified for the general election with 7,763 votes. Donald Benally of Shiprock placed third followed by the rest of the candidates.
Voter turnout was relatively low, at just 43.84% of registered voters. An estimated 48,511 of the 110,645 registered voters participated in the primary election.
Polling
Primary Election polling
Results
With 109 of the 110 chapters reporting, Ben Shelly was ahead of Linda Lovejoy with 52.7% vs. 47.3% of all counted votes. Shelly claimed victory and promised voters in the Gorman Hall at the Window Rock Sports Center that "I will work with you. We will work together." Lovejoy demanded a recount.