2006 Navajo Nation Election

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Nominee Joe Shirley Jr. Lynda Lovejoy Running mate Ben Shelly Walter Phelps Popular vote 34,945 30,653 Percentage 53.27% 46.73% Home Town Chinle Crownpoint Chapters Carried 75 0

President before election Joe Shirley Jr. President Joe Shirley Jr.

Background Navajo Nation Alamo Ramah Tohajiilee Navajo Nation Council Council Chamber Chapters

Presidential elections 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2015 2018 2022

Presidents and Vice Presidents Peterson Zah 1991–1995, with Marshall Plummer Albert Hale 1995–1998, with Thomas Atcitty Thomas Atcitty 1998–1998, with Milton Bluehouse Sr. Milton Bluehouse Sr. 1998–1999, with Frank Chee Willeto Kelsey Begaye 1999–2003, with Taylor McKenzie Joe Shirley Jr. 2003–2011, with Ben Shelly and Frank Dayish Jr. Ben Shelly 2011–2015, with Rex Lee Jim Russell Begaye 2015-present, with Jonathan Nez

The Navajo Nation Presidential elections took place on November 7, 2006. Primary elections took place on August 8, 2006. Incumbent President Joe Shirley Jr. was re-elected, defeating 11 candidates, including former New Mexico State senator Lynda Lovejoy.

• Frank Dayish Jr., then vice-president of the Navajo Nation announced his bid for president on May 6, 2006 at the Shiprock Chapter as 450 concern Diné.
• Lynda Lovejoy, a former New Mexico state representative, declared her candidancy on April 1, 2006, at the Crownpoint Chapter House in Crownpoint, New Mexico.
• Calvin Tsosie, from Yatahey, New Mexico
• Frank Dayish, from Shiprock, New Mexico
• Lynda Lovejoy, from Crownpoint, New Mexico
• Ernest H Begay, from Rock Point, Arizona
• James Henderson, from Ganado, Arizona
• Wilbur Nelson
• Harrison Todichiini, from Shiprock, New Mexico
• Vern Lee, from Kirtland, New Mexico
• Joe Shirley Jr., from Chinle, Arizona

Shirley Jr. (Chinle) and Lovejoy (Crownpoint) proceeded to a runoff in November 2007. This was he first time in Navajo government history that a woman made it to the runoff. Immediately after the first round, Mrs. Lovejoy selected Walter Phelps from Leupp, Arizona as her running mate to challenge Shirley, who picked Navajo Nation Council Delegate Ben Shelly (Thoreau).

Shirley defeated Lovejoy in the second round by a margin of 4,000. Becoming the first leader of the Navajo nation to be re-elected since Chairman Peter MacDonald.

• Johnson, Natasha Kaye. (2006). Lovejoy enters race (Archived 2009-05-16). The Gallup Independent
• Hassler, Brian. (2007). Dayish campaign begins with rally in Shiprock (Archived 2009-05-16). The Gallup Independent