Navajo Nation Presidential Race Marks Shift from Coal Dependency
In a historic shift, the upcoming Navajo Nation presidential election will not feature a candidate who supports the coal industry, a first in many decades. The change reflects evolving voter attitudes towards one of the tribe’s traditional economic pillars.
As reported by Gabriel Pietrorazio of KJZZ, the Navajo Nation, with nearly half a million enrolled members, is witnessing an election cycle that is notably different from the past. Previously, coal has been a cornerstone of the tribe’s economy, but the current slate of candidates signals a departure from this reliance.
Incumbent President Buu Nygren, who attended the 2024 Democratic National Convention as a delegate, has publicly backed coal, aligning with former President Trump’s agenda to sustain coal usage. In a January address, Nygren expressed commitment to keeping the last coal mine on the reservation operational, citing significant job creation and revenue generation for the Navajo Nation.
“Because those are hundreds and hundreds of jobs. Those are millions and millions of dollars of revenue that the Navajo Nation receives,” Nygren stated, emphasizing the reliance on coal for heating by many on the reservation.
Despite this, Nygren and 13 other candidates did not progress past the primary. Justin Jones, who advanced, holds opposing views.
“I’m opposed to coal mining,” asserted Jones, an attorney and former liaison for a New Mexico coal mine. He further elaborated, “I’m opposed to any form of mining that’s where a shovel will go, blast it and get resources out.”
Jones’ rival, Crystalyne Curley, the current speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, shares a similar stance.
“Coal is dying. It’s not coming back. So you do need an administration that will say, this is the new plan to move forward,” Curley remarked, highlighting a need for strategic planning beyond coal.
President Nygren’s association with coal and his interaction with President Trump, including a selfie taken at the White House during the signing of an executive order aimed at preserving the coal industry, negatively impacted his reelection prospects. Andrew Curley, a University of Arizona assistant professor and author on Navajo energy politics, observed that this association alienated many voters.
“Based on my conversations with voters, people were upset. It kind of reflected a politics I think a lot of people on the reservation reject and is unattuned to the real struggles, real challenges for the coal economy,” Andrew Curley noted. He was also a candidate but did not reach the final ballot, and he supports the transition towards sustainable practices.
Dailin Long, a 44-year-old resident near the last active coal mine, expressed relief at Nygren’s absence from the ballot. He previously supported Nygren but now sees the need for a legacy that resonates with the younger generation.
“Our hope was that he would establish a legacy that speaks to our generation, and it seems that, unfortunately, he kind of just blended in with the status quo,” Long stated, concerned about potential displacement by mine expansion.
Long hopes the candidates’ promises extend beyond campaign rhetoric to actionable energy policies benefiting the Navajo Nation.
“I really do hope they take it to heart and really consider we need an energy policy that works for us,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Navajo Nation maintains ownership and operation of a significant coal mining company, with sites in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana.
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