Carlyle W. Begay is a Diné-American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the seventh district in the Arizona State Senate which is the largest Legislative State District in the Continental United States.
Carlyle Begay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Arizona Senate from the 7th district | |
| In office July 1, 2013 – January 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Jackson, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Jamescita Peshlakai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Tuba City, Arizona |
| Nationality | Navajo, American |
| Political party | Democratic (until 2015) Republican (2015–present) |
| Spouse | Chantelle K Begay (2021–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Arizona |
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Early life
editBegay is Navajo and was born on the Navajo Nation and he is Tó’tsohnii (Big Water), born for Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House) clans. His maternal grandparents are Tl'izi lani (Many Goats clan). His paternal grandparents are also of the Tl'izi lani (Many Goats clan). Begay is a lifetime resident of Arizona and grew up on the Navajo Nation near Black Mesa and was raised under the teachings of his ancestry, instilling in him the importance of remembering the story of his people and carrying it on to his descendants.[citation needed]
Begay graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and was a student in the Minority Medical Education Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He also attended the Arizona International College's Natural Sciences and Mathematics program in Tucson, Arizona; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Winter Institute, in Baltimore, Maryland; and the Harvard School of Public Health's Public Health Studies program in Boston, Massachusetts.[citation needed]
Political career
editBegay succeeded Jack Jackson, Jr. in the Arizona State Senate in 2013 after Jackson's resignation.[1] On November 23, 2015, Begay announced that he switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.[2]
In October 2020, he joined Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer, Donald Trump Jr. and others in launching the Native Americans for Trump[3] coalition in Williams, Arizona.[4] He served as the co-chair of the Native Americans for Trump 2020 coalition, together with fellow Navajo Sharon Clahchischilliage.
Personal life
editBegay, along with his wife and children, moved to Colorado in 2021. He is an avid golfer. He and his wife were baptized on Easter Sunday 2024. He enjoys spending time with his nephew Matthew, who frequently visits from Tucson.
References
edit- ^ "Residency of new legislator Begay questioned". azcentral.com. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Arizona lawmaker Carlyle Begay switches political party". azcentral. November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ "Native Americans for Trump 2020". nativeamericans.donaldjtrump.com/. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ Dominguez, Carina (October 15, 2020). "Donald Trump Jr. launches 'Natives for Trump'". Indian Country Today.