On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Navajo Nation voters elected the first woman to its highest political office. Crystalyne Curley and her running mate, Christopher C. Deschene, netted 32,094 votes for Office of the President and Vice President.
According to The Navajo Times, Curley gave her victory speech at the Veterans Memorial Field House in Fort Defiance, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation Reservation.
“Thank you so much. …This is your victory,” Curley said. “We have all worked hard because we said we want a positive direction and this was an outcry from the people for love.”
Curley is Tsenjikini and born for To’aheedliinii. Her maternal grandfather is Kinyaa’aanii and her paternal grandfather is Dził t’aadi Kinyaa’áanii. She was raised in Fish Point within the Tselani/Cottowood Chapter in Arizona.
She speaks both Navajo and English, and has two bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University (ASU) and a master’s in public administration from the University of New Mexico (UNM).
Curley was Miss Navajo Nation from 2011-2012. She’s held several leadership roles in her career, including community stewardship coordinator, senior policy advisor, and director of tribal economic development. She was elected to the Navajo Nation Council in 2022, representing the chapters of Tachee/Blue Gap, Many Farms, Nazlini, Tséłání/Cottonwood and Low Mountain. She is currently in her second term as speaker of the Navajo Nation Council and is the first woman to hold that position.
Curley’s running mate, Deschene, is an attorney and veteran. He was a state representative from 2009 to 2011. He served as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Director of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs from 2015 to 2017.
Curley’s campaign platform centered on community safety, housing, jobs, and mental health support for youth.
Curley and Deschene will be sworn into office in January 2027.
