Jonathan Nez

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Jonathan Nez
File:Jonathan Nez (B cropped).jpg
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 51)
Tuba City, Arizona, U.S.
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

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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

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File:Jonathan Nez and Jake Steinfeld at Holbrook Fitness Center.jpg
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)

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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

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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] Crane defeated Nez in the general election, 54% to 45%.[16]

On July 22, 2025, Nez announced that he would run again for the 2nd congressional district in the 2026 election.[17]

Personal life

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Nez is married to Phefelia Nez, who was appointed in 2022 to serve on the trustee board of the John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts.[18]

2022 vehicle ramming incident

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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".[19]

References

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