Jonathan Nez
Jonathan Nez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th President of the Navajo Nation | |
| Assumed office January 15, 2019 | |
| Vice President | Myron Lizer |
| Preceded by | Russell Begaye |
| 9th Vice President of the Navajo Nation | |
| In office May 12, 2015 – January 15, 2019 | |
| President | Russell Begaye |
| Preceded by | Rex Lee Jim |
| Succeeded by | Myron Lizer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 26, 1975 Tuba City, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Phefelia Herbert |
| Education | Northland Pioneer College Northern Arizona University (BS, MPA) |
Jonathan Nez (born May 26, 1975[1][2]) is the 9th and current president of the Navajo Nation. He was elected President of the Navajo Nation on November 6, 2018.[3][4] Nez won the presidential election with a margin of 33.07% of the vote despite the endorsement of his opponent, Joe Shirley, Jr., by then President Russell Begay.[5] Although neither Nez nor Shirley were incumbents, both enjoyed high name recognition.
Before his election, Nez served as vice president from 2015 until his inauguration in early January 2019.[6] At 43 years of age, Nez is the youngest person to have ever been elected President of the Navajo Nation.[4] Jonathan Nez served as a council delegate representing Tsah Bii Kin, Navajo Mountain, Shonto, & Oljato Chapters.
Life and career
Nez was born in Tuba City, Arizona,[7] and attended Northland Pioneer College and Northern Arizona University.[6] He attained both a BS in Political science and a Masters of Public Administration from NAU.[6]
Before being elected Vice President of the Navajo Nation, Nez served as vice president of the Shonto chapter, delegate to the Navajo Nation Council representing the Oljato, Ts'ah Bii' Kin, Navajo Mountain, and Shonto chapters.[6] He was sworn in to the office of Vice President of the Navajo Nation on May 12, 2015,[8] and sworn in to office of president on January 15, 2019.[9]
Nez was selected as one of seventeen speakers to jointly deliver the keynote address at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[10]
He was one of the electors for Arizona in 2020 for the presidential election.[11]
References
- ^ "Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- ^ "Nez: Youngest ever". Navajo Times. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- ^ Smith, Noel Lyn (2018-11-08). "Voters on the Navajo Nation elect president, council delegates". Farmington Daily Times. Archived from the original on 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
- ^ a b Becenti, Arlyssa (7 Nov 2018). "Nez wins by 19,000 votes". Navajo Times. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ Hickman, John (2020). "Navajo Nation Presidential Electoral Competition". The Canadian Journal of Native Studies. 40 (2): 27–48. ISSN 0715-3244.
- ^ a b c d "Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan M. Nez" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2018-11-09.
- ^ "President Jonathan Nez". www.opvp.navajo-nsn.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- ^ "The Latest: Jonathan Nez sworn in as Navajo Nation president". AP NEWS. 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
- ^ "Democrats Unveil A New Kind of Convention Keynote". 2020 Democratic National Convention. 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Arizona Certificate of Ascertainment" (PDF). National Archives. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
External links
- Living people
- Native American politicians
- Northern Arizona University alumni
- Presidents of the Navajo Nation
- Vice Presidents of the Navajo Nation
- Arizona Democrats
- People from Tuba City, Arizona
- 2020 United States presidential electors
- 1975 births
- 20th-century Native Americans
- 21st-century Native Americans
- Native American people from Arizona