Jonathan Nez on Indigenous Perseverance

Jonathan Nez, a Native American candidate aiming to become Arizona's first Indigenous representative in Congress, has been campaigning on his "Warrior Up" platform. The platform is divided into four pillars, each representing one of the four sacred mountains in Diné culture. Nez, who served as president of the Navajo Nation from 2019 to 2023, has focused on reducing healthcare and housing expenses, developing sustainable rural infrastructure, combating corruption in Washington, and emphasizing that "water is life and food is medicine."

Growing up in Shonto, a small Navajo community in northeastern Arizona, Nez experienced a challenging upbringing. His family lacked running water and electricity, and they relied on farming, herding livestock, and building fires for sustenance. Despite the hardships, Nez credits this upbringing for shaping his character and fostering his determination to bring change to his community and beyond.

He was raised in a conservative household by Republican parents but later became a Democrat due to his Navajo identity. His parents instilled in him and his siblings a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to achieve their goals through education and gaining experiences outside the Navajo Nation, with the ultimate goal of returning home to serve their community.

Nez's political journey began early in his career when he was elected to local community government and later served as a lawmaker, council member, and county Board of Supervisors member. His rise to presidency of the Navajo Nation allowed him to gain valuable insight into the relationship between the tribe and the federal government.