FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Jonathan Nez has been elected president of the Navajo Nation and is warning of tough times ahead for the tribe on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S.
Unofficial election results for the reservation in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah show Nez overwhelmingly beat former two-term President Joe Shirley Jr.
Nez is vice president of the tribe and said Wednesday he would start planning his administration.
Among the plans are restructuring the tribal government to try to avoid layoffs after a coal-fired power plant and a mine that supplies it close at the end of 2019. Both are on the reservation.
Election results will be finalized next week.
Ballot shortages were reported at some polling stations but Shirley wasn’t contesting the outcome of the race.
