Few Navajo lawmakers will have incumbent advantage

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – Nearly two-thirds of the 88 lawmakers on the Navajo Nation Council are seeking re-election, but hardly anyone will have an incumbent's advantage.

Navajos voted overwhelmingly last year to cut size of the Tribal Council from 88 members to 24. The smaller council will be seated in January.

One person will be elected from each of 24 districts across the vast reservation.

Out of the 145 people who met this week's deadline to file for a council seat, 57 are incumbents. Only three of them won't be facing another incumbent.

One district has four incumbents, and one candidate in a separate district is facing nothing but incumbents.

The tribe's primary election is set for Aug. 3. The top two vote-getters from each district will face off in the Nov. 2 general election.