2006 Navajo Nation presidential election

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.
On May 6, 2006, then vice-president of the Navajo Nation Frank Dayish Jr. announced his bid for president at the Shiprock Chapter as 450 concern Diné.

Lynda Lovejoy
Lynda Lovejoy, a former New Mexico state representative, declared her candidancy on April 1, 2006, at the Crownpoint Chapter House in Crownpoint, New Mexico.

Candidates

 * Calvin Tsosie Yatahey, New Mexico
 * Frank Dayish Shiprock, New Mexico
 * Lynda Lovejoy Crownpoint, New Mexico
 * Ernest H Begay Rock Point, Arizona
 * James Henderson Ganado, Arizona
 * Wilbur Nelson
 * Harrison Todichiini Shiprock, New Mexico
 * Vern Lee Kirtland, New Mexico
 * Joe Shirley Jr. Chinle, Arizona

Primary Elections
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.