Navajo County voters go to the polls next Tuesday for Arizona’s 2026 primary, a contest that will narrow the field in races from the governor’s office down to local county seats. A new state law permanently moved the primary from early August to the second-to-last Tuesday in July. Early voting has been underway since June 24 and the registration deadline for the primary has already passed, though voters can still sign up for the November 3 general election through October 5.

For most of the county, the marquee race is the fight for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from near Tucson to the Utah border. Republican Eli Crane is running for re-election with no serious primary challenge. On the Democratic side, former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez is mounting a second bid after losing to Crane in 2024 with rival Eric Descheenie withdrawn, Nez is the effective nominee-in-waiting. If elected in November, he would become the first Native American to represent Arizona in Congress.

At the top of the ballot, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs faces no primary opponent, while four Republicans, U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, businessman Scott Neely and Ken Miceli, compete for the chance to challenge her. Other statewide primaries include Republican contests for secretary of state and superintendent of public instruction.

Most county-level races feature a single candidate advancing unopposed, including Clerk of the Superior Court and several justice of the peace and constable seats organized by precinct. One contested local primary is the Republican constable race in Snowflake between Roger Harston and Michelle Hunt. Nonpartisan municipal races also appear on ballots in Holbrook, Snowflake and Taylor.

The Navajo Nation moved its 2026 primary to July 21 to align with the state, though that date applies only to Navajo voters in Arizona. The Nation runs its election separately and voters registered through their chapter houses should confirm their status with the Navajo Election Administration.

Because the county spans nearly 10,000 square miles with different offices on the ballot by jurisdiction, voters are encouraged to review a sample ballot for their address. For polling locations and registration status, contact Navajo County Election Services or the Arizona Secretary of State’s voter portal. Primary winners advance to the general election on November 3.