Race for Hopi chairman to be rematch of 2017 election

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The race for Hopi chairman will be a rematch of the last general election.

Tribal council member David Norton Talayumptewa was the top vote-getter in Thursday's primary with 298 votes, followed by current Chairman Tim Nuvangyaoma with 291 votes, according to unofficial results.

The two will face off in the Nov. 11 general election. Nuvangyaoma beat Talayumptewa in the 2017 general election by more than 325 votes.

Turnout for Thursday's primary was low with 945 votes cast. The ballot didn't feature the candidates for vice chairman because only two people are running, meaning both current Vice Chairman Clark Tenakhongva and Craig Andrews automatically moved on to the general election.

Andrew Qumyintewa finished a close third in the primary election for chairman, with 286 votes. Former Vice Chairman Alfred Lomahquahu Jr. trailed with 70 votes. The candidates have a few days to submit any challenges before the results can be certified, said tribal registrar Karen Shupla.

The tribe's top two elected officials don't run on a ticket, but Nuvangyaoma has been campaigning with Andrews. Nuvangyaoma didn't immediately return a message left Friday by The Associated Press.

The leaders get much of their authority from the Hopi Tribal Council, which functions like a city government. The chairman presides over meetings but doesn't vote except to break a tie.

Talayumptewa, a former U.S. Bureau of Education official, represents Kykotsmovi on the council where he championed a measure to unify the several schools on the reservation under a single district and education board.

“There's going to be some consistency to how we're teaching them, and it's going to improve learning and academic success,” he told the AP.

Both Talayumptewa and Nuvangyaoma have talked in a...