Russell Begaye, the next president of the Navajo Nation. Photo from Facebook

Members of the Navajo Nation went to the polls on Tuesday and chose Russell Begaye as their next president.

Unofficial results showed Begaye with 25,745 votes. Challenger Joe Shirley Jr., a former two-term president, received 15,439.

"I think this is the first step to reconciling and the nation to heal," Begaye told The Farmington Daily Times, referring to the controversy surrounding the delayed election.

Begaye, a former delegate to the Navajo Nation Council, is due to be inaugurated on May 12. He will be joined by his vice president Jonathan Nez, a current delegate.

The team will replace President Ben Shelly and Vice President Rex Lee Jim. The pair was sworn into office in January despite being ousted in the last year's primary.

The November general election was delayed after former candidate Chris Deschene was removed from the ballot due to his lack of fluency in the Navajo language. The tribe has scheduled a referendum in June to address that issue for future elections.

As for Begaye and Nez they are holding a press conference this morning at their campaign headquarters in Window Rock, Arizona, to discuss their transition plans.

Get the Story:
Begaye, Nez win Navajo presidency (The Farmington Daily Times 4/22)
Russell Begaye wins Navajo Nation presidency after delayed vote (Reuters 4/22)
Tribal businessman upsets former Navajo president in race (AP 4/22)
Begaye-Nez supporters celebrate victory (The Navajo Times 4/21)
Shirley: ‘The numbers are what they are’ (The Navajo Times 4/21)
Begaye wins Navajo Nation presidential election (KOB 4/21)

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