{{Infobox Election
| election_name      = Navajo Nation presidential election, 2010
| country            = Navajo Nation
| flag_image         = Navajo flag.svg
| type               = presidential
| ongoing            = No
| previous_election  = Navajo Nation presidential election, 2006
| previous_year      = 2006
| next_election      = Navajo Nation presidential election, 2015
| next_year          = 2015
| election_date      = November 2, 2010
| image1             = [[File:Replace this image female.svg|125px]]
| nominee1           = [[Lynda Lovejoy]]
| popular_vote1      = 
| percentage1        = 
| image2             = [[File:Ben Shelly.jpg|125px]]
| nominee2           = [[Ben Shelly]]
| popular_vote2      = 
| percentage2        = 
<!-- 
| map_image          = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = County results 
-->
| title              = President
| before_election    = [[Joe Shirley, Jr.]] 
| after_election     = Ben Shelly
| after_party        = 
}}
{{ElectionsNN}}
The '''Navajo Nation presidential election of 2010''' was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Ben Shelly won the election.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-11-03 />

The general election was held between [[New Mexico Senate|New Mexico State Senator]] [[Lynda Lovejoy]] and outgoing [[Vice President of the Navajo Nation|Navajo Nation Vice President]] [[Ben Shelly]].

The primary election was held on August 3, 2010. Lynda Lovejoy received more primary election votes than any other presidential candidate, becoming the first woman to do so. Ben Shelly came in second place. The primary election included nine other candidates. This was the first Navajo Nation presidential election in which both candidates, Lovejoy and Shelly, were residents of the Eastern part of the Navajo Nation.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05 />

Ben Shelly became the first Vice President of the Navajo Nation to be elected president.<ref name=abqjournal_2011-01-11 /> Had she been elected, Lynda Lovejoy would have become the first female president of the Navajo Nation.<ref name=telegraph_2010-10-18 />

Previously, during the [[Navajo Nation presidential election, 2006|2006 presidential election]] [[Joe Shirley Jr.]] had been re-elected to a second term over challenger Lynda Lovejoy. On July 9, 2010, the [[Navajo Nation Supreme Court]] ruled that Shirley could not seek a third consecutive term as president.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-07-09 />

==Candidates==

===General election===

* [[Lynda Lovejoy]], of [[Crownpoint]], [[New Mexico]], New Mexico State Senator, District 22
** [[Earl Tulley]], chosen as Lovejoy's running mate for Vice President on August 8, 2010, activist and administrator.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-12 />

* [[Ben Shelly]], of [[Thoreau, New Mexico|Thoreau]], [[New Mexico]], [[Navajo Nation Vice-President]]
** [[Rex Lee Jim]], chosen as Shelly's running mate for Vice President on August 8, 2010.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-12_shellybio />

===Announced and defeated in primary===

* [[Anthony Begay]], of [[Mariano Lake, New Mexico]], Mariano Lake Chapter President
* [[Donald Benally]], of  [[Shiprock, New Mexico]], Shiprock Chapter Vice-President
* [[Sharon Clahchischilliage]], of [[Cudeii, New Mexico]], Fmr. Navajo-Washington Office Director
* Rex Lee Jim, of [[Rock Point, Arizona]] [[Navajo Nation Council]]<ref name=navajotimes_2009-11-05 />
* [[Arbin Mitchell]], of [[Wide Ruins, Arizona]], Executive Director of Navajo Nation Division of Community Development
* [[Daniel Peaches]], of [[Kayenta, Arizona]], Fmr. Kayenta Chapter Council Delegate, Kayenta Town Manager, Staff Assistant to Fmr. Chairman [[Peter MacDonald Sr.]]
* [[Jerry Todacheenie]], of [[Shiprock, New Mexico]], BHP Employee and member of Shiprock Fair Board
* [[D. Harrison Tsosie]], of [[Dennehotso, Arizona]], Navajo Nation Deputy Attorney General
* [[Dale Tsosie]], of [[Lechee, Arizona]], Navajo Citizen

===Not Running===

* [[Lawrence T. Morgan]], of [[Pinedale, New Mexico|Pinedale]], [[New Mexico]], [[Navajo Nation council Speaker]]

===Term limited===

* [[Joe Shirley Jr.]], of [[Chinle, Arizona|Chinle]], [[Arizona]], incumbent [[President of the Navajo Nation]]

==Primary election==
State Senator [[Lynda Lovejoy]], who unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 2006, easily defeated eleven other candidates with 17,137 votes, becoming the first woman to win a Navajo Nation presidential primary.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05 /> Navajo Nation [[Vice President]] [[Ben Shelly]] came in second place and qualified for the general election with 7,763 votes. Donald Benally of Shiprock placed third followed by the rest of the candidates.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05 />

Voter turnout was relatively low, at just 43.84% of registered voters.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05 /> An estimated 48,511 of the 110,645 registered voters participated in the primary election.<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05 />

{{Election box begin no party no change
| title = Navajo Nation primary results <ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05 />
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = '''[[Lynda Lovejoy]]''' 
| chapter = Crownpoint
| votes = '''17,137'''
| percentage = '''35.7'''
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = '''[[Ben Shelly]]'''
| chapter = Thoreau
| votes = '''7,763''' 
| percentage = '''16.2'''
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Donald Benally
| chapter = Shiprock
| votes = 6,082
| percentage = 12.7
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Rex Lee Jim
| chapter = Rock Point
| votes = 4,224
| percentage = 8.8
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Sharon Clahchischilliage
| chapter = Gad'iiahi
| votes = 3,139
| percentage = 6.5
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate = Arbin Mitchell
| chapter = Wide Ruins
| votes = 2,809
| percentage = 5.8
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate =  D. Harrison Tsosie
| chapter = Unknown
| votes = 2,718
| percentage = 5.7
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate =  Dale Tsosie
| chapter = Lechee
| votes = 2,142
| percentage = 4.5
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate =  Daniel Peaches
| chapter = Kayenta Township
| votes = 749
| percentage = 1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate =  Anthony Begay
| chapter = Mariano Lake
| votes = 620
| percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate =  Jerry Todacheenie
| chapter = Shiprock
| votes = 620
| percentage = 1.0
}}
{{Election box candidate no party no change
| candidate =  Write-in candidates
| chapter = Variety
| votes = 290
| percentage = 0.4
}}
{{Election box total no party no change
| votes =48,511 
| percentage= 
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Polling==

===Primary Election polling===
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign=bottom
! width='135'| Poll Source
! width='135'| Dates Administered
! width='120'| Lynda Lovejoy
! width='120'| Ben Shelly
|-
| General Poll [http://www.navajo.org]
| align=center| January 10, 2010
|  {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''51%'''
| align=center| 49%
|}

{| class="wikitable"p
|- valign=bottom
! width='135'| Poll Source
! width='135'| Dates Administered
! width='120'| Rex Lee Jim 
! width='120'| Lynda Lovejoy
|-
| General Poll [http://www.navajo.org]
| align=center| January 10, 2010
|  {{party shading/Democratic}} align=center| '''45%'''
| align=center| 44%
|}

==Results==
With 109 of the 110 chapters reporting, Ben Shelly was ahead of Linda Lovejoy with 52.7% vs. 47.3% of all counted votes. Shelly claimed victory and promised voters in the Gorman Hall at the Window Rock Sports Center that "I will work with you. We will work together." Lovejoy demanded a recount.<ref name=nytimes_2010-11-03 />

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=navajotimes_2010-07-09>{{cite news
|first         = Jason
|last          = Begay
|title         = Navajo Nation Supreme Court ruled Shirley cannot run again until 2014
|url           = http://www.navajotimes.com/politics/president/0710/070910nothird.php
|work          = [[Navajo Times]]
|date          = 2010-07-09
|accessdate    = 2010-10-28
}}</ref>

<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-05>{{cite news
| first       = Bill
| last        = Donovan
| title       = Lovejoy first, Shelly second
| url         = http://www.navajotimes.com/politics/election2010/080510primary.php
| work        = [[Navajo Times]]
| date        = 2010-08-05
| accessdate  = 2010-10-28
}}</ref>

<ref name="abqjournal_2011-01-11">{{cite news
| title       = UPDATED: Changes Pending as Navajo Nation President Sworn In
| url         = https://www.abqjournal.com/6635/updated-charges-pending-as-navajo-nation-president-sworn-in.html
| work        = [[Albuquerque Journal]]
| date        = 2011-01-11
| access-date = 2018-10-10
}}</ref>

<ref name=telegraph_2010-10-18>{{cite news
| last         = Allen
| first        = Nick
| title        = Navajo poised to elect first woman as president 
| url          = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8071552/Navajo-poised-to-elect-first-woman-as-president.html
| work         = [[The Daily Telegraph]]
| date         = 2010-10-18
| access-date  = 2010-10-28
}}</ref>

<ref name=nytimes_2010-11-03>{{cite news
| last         = Navarro
| first        = Mireya
| date         = 2010-11-03
| title        = Woman Loses Bid to Lead Navajos
| url          = https://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/woman-loses-bid-to-lead-navajos/
| work         = [[The New York Times]]
| access-date  = 2018-10-10
}}</ref>

<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-12>{{cite news
| first        = Bill
| last         = Donovan
| title        = Lovejoy picks activist, administrator
| url          = http://www.navajotimes.com/politics/election2010/081210lovejoy.php
| work         = [[Navajo Times]]
| date         = 2010-08-12
| access-date  = 2010-10-28
}}</ref>

<ref name=navajotimes_2010-08-12_shellybio>{{cite news
| first        = Bill
| last         = Donovan
| title        = Shelly picks experience, values
| url          = http://www.navajotimes.com/politics/election2010/081210shelly.php
| work         = [[Navajo Times]]
| date         = 2010-08-12
| access-date  = 2010-10-28
}}</ref>

<ref name=navajotimes_2009-11-05>{{cite news
| first        = Arviso
| last         = Tom
| title        = Who will lead?
| work         = [[Navajo Times]]
| url          = http://navajotimes.com/opinions/2009/1109/110509leaders.php
| date         = 2009-11-05
| access-date  = 2018-10-10
}}</ref>

<ref name=navajotimes_2010-11-03>{{cite news
| last         = Donovan
| first        = Bill
| date         = 2010-11-03
| title        = Lovejoy landslide fails to appear
| url          = http://www.navajotimes.com/news/2010/1110/110310wrap.php
| work         = [[Navajo Times]]
| location     = Window Rock, Arizona
| access-date  = 2018-10-10
}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101018232156/http://www.presidentbenshelly.com/ Ben Shelly & Rex Lee Jim official campaign]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101103072056/http://www.lyndalovejoy.org/ Lynda Lovejoy & Earl Tulley official campaign]

[[Category:2010 elections in the United States]]
[[Category:Navajo Nation elections]]