Native votes can decide Arizona and win the presidential election. The Navajo Nation is an important voting block in Arizona, with a majority of Navajo tribal citizens voting for Democratic candidates.
Hello Daily Kos! I’m Jaynie Parrish, (Diné/Navajo) I recently managed social media for EMILY's List and for the last eight years my work in issue and political advocacy took me across the country working with tribal and non-tribal groups. I’ve built my skills, created a network, and am now putting this knowledge and energy into organizing my own community on the Navajo Nation, including Hopi and Apache communities. We must deliver Arizona's 11 Electoral Votes to Biden.
I returned to the Navajo Nation because in June my mentor Peterson Zah, former president of the Navajo Nation, told me about the Democratic Party’s effort to organize Navajo voters and he wanted to connect me with them. I agreed to take a call -- not thinking one week later I would quit my steady job and move across the country to work on this campaign. Also on that phone call were state Senator Jamescita Peshlakai (AZ-SD7), state House Representative Arlando Teller (AZ-HD7), and other Navajo and non-tribal Democratic supporters from across northeastern Arizona. I didn’t expect a full Navajo court press.
They spoke to me in a way that I didn’t know I needed. I was struggling the last few months since the pandemic hit Navajo Nation and was thinking of ways I could help. I was struggling for an even longer period with how and when I would return home. Like Mr. Zah said, I’ve been doing all these great and wonderful things out there, with other communities, now was the time I was needed at home. State Sen. Peshlakai and state Rep. Teller shared similar heartfelt messages. I started feeling the tears well up. After we said our goodbyes, I cried. I cried for the people we’ve lost and continue to lose due to COVID-19. I cried because I knew our communities needed help and they were not getting the resources we needed. Too many leaders at the state level and federal levels failed us again. I knew we needed to change these systems.
The words from my Navajo leaders and elders gave me hope. They inspired me and reminded me of my power and of the peoples’ strength. The answer was clear. I had to go home and do everything I could to help.
Now, I’m here thanks to you, Daily Kos. You’ve already helped us generate this new effort! Working with an incredible team of Native organizers and volunteers registering Navajo, Hopi, and Apache communities to vote. The Native vote is critical in delivering Arizona’s 11 Electoral Votes to defeat Donald Trump, elect Mark Kelly to the U.S. Senate, and turn the state legislature blue.
Arizona is a battleground state and organizing an effective campaign in the time of COVID is not easy. We are balancing keeping tribal communities safe while also making sure voters are not further disenfranchised by Republican efforts to diminish Native voting rights. Native voters are not going anywhere.
Thankfully, we have seven Native organizers who are incredibly dedicated to their communities on Navajo and Hopi. Organizers like Jonathan who after losing five family members to COVID is registering his community of Tolani Lake on the Navajo Nation to vote. He knows what’s at stake and has fully committed to helping with relief efforts and making sure they vote. Lorraine, an organizer who lives on Hopi makes regular calls to family and friends in the villages, and arranges drop off and pick up times for voter registration and early voting forms. Joanne from the Window Rock area has worked closely, for years with Navajo elders, and is making sure they understand the vote by mail process to keep them safe by voting from home. Navajo elders are a large voting bloc and many like to gather at their polling sites on election days to visit and cast their ballot. It’s very much a social event, but this year in a pandemic and high infection rates across Arizona and in tribal communities, many tribal, county, and state election offices are operating at a limited capacity and are having to navigate new processes.
No doubt we have many challenges ahead of us this election season with weekend lockdowns, curfews, and social distancing measures to name a few and this in addition to pre-pandemic voter challenges in tribal communities. I still have hope. We have to find other ways to connect with voters and that means working on the grassroots community level and using every means to communicate with Native voters.
We need your help to hire more Native organizers, produce resources to make signage like billboards and flyers, provide PPE for organizers, and commission radio ads.
I am up for the challenge, our team is up for the challenge. Donate to support Native Get-Out-the-Vote efforts on the Navajo Nation, and Apache and Hopi Tribal lands. Help defeat Donald Trump, flip the Senate, and turn Arizona blue. 100% of your donation goes directly to our campaign. [url updated on 4/4/23)
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