diff --git a/x/stake/keeper.go b/x/stake/keeper.go
index 751b84017..2dcfd3caf 100644
--- a/x/stake/keeper.go
+++ b/x/stake/keeper.go
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ func (k Keeper) setCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, candidate Candidate) {
 
 	// update the list ordered by voting power
 	if oldFound {
-		store.Delete(GetValidatorKey(address, oldCandidate.Assets, k.cdc))
+		store.Delete(GetValidatorKey(address, oldCandidate.Assets, oldCandidate.ValidatorHeight, k.cdc))
 	}
-	store.Set(GetValidatorKey(address, validator.Power, k.cdc), bz)
+	store.Set(GetValidatorKey(address, validator.Power, validator.Height, k.cdc), bz)
 
 	// add to the validators to update list if is already a validator
 	// or is a new validator
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func (k Keeper) removeCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, address sdk.Address) {
 	// delete the old candidate record
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
 	store.Delete(GetCandidateKey(address))
-	store.Delete(GetValidatorKey(address, candidate.Assets, k.cdc))
+	store.Delete(GetValidatorKey(address, candidate.Assets, candidate.ValidatorHeight, k.cdc))
 
 	// delete from recent and power weighted validator groups if the validator
 	// exists and add validator with zero power to the validator updates
diff --git a/x/stake/keeper_keys.go b/x/stake/keeper_keys.go
index 45e0570bc..ae8f9d733 100644
--- a/x/stake/keeper_keys.go
+++ b/x/stake/keeper_keys.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package stake
 
 import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/wire"
 )
@@ -30,9 +32,11 @@ func GetCandidateKey(addr sdk.Address) []byte {
 }
 
 // get the key for the validator used in the power-store
-func GetValidatorKey(addr sdk.Address, power sdk.Rat, cdc *wire.Codec) []byte {
-	powerBytes := []byte(power.ToLeftPadded(maxDigitsForAccount))
-	return append(ValidatorsKey, append(powerBytes, addr.Bytes()...)...)
+func GetValidatorKey(addr sdk.Address, power sdk.Rat, height uint64, cdc *wire.Codec) []byte {
+	powerBytes := []byte(power.ToLeftPadded(maxDigitsForAccount)) // power big-endian (more powerful validators first)
+	heightBytes := make([]byte, 8)
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint64(heightBytes, height) // height little-endian (older validators first)
+	return append(ValidatorsKey, append(powerBytes, append(heightBytes, addr.Bytes()...)...)...)
 }
 
 // get the key for the accumulated update validators
diff --git a/x/stake/types.go b/x/stake/types.go
index 9f7d97ae5..7757566bf 100644
--- a/x/stake/types.go
+++ b/x/stake/types.go
@@ -59,12 +59,13 @@ const (
 // exchange rate. Voting power can be calculated as total bonds multiplied by
 // exchange rate.
 type Candidate struct {
-	Status      CandidateStatus `json:"status"`      // Bonded status
-	Address     sdk.Address     `json:"owner"`       // Sender of BondTx - UnbondTx returns here
-	PubKey      crypto.PubKey   `json:"pub_key"`     // Pubkey of candidate
-	Assets      sdk.Rat         `json:"assets"`      // total shares of a global hold pools
-	Liabilities sdk.Rat         `json:"liabilities"` // total shares issued to a candidate's delegators
-	Description Description     `json:"description"` // Description terms for the candidate
+	Status          CandidateStatus `json:"status"`           // Bonded status
+	Address         sdk.Address     `json:"owner"`            // Sender of BondTx - UnbondTx returns here
+	PubKey          crypto.PubKey   `json:"pub_key"`          // Pubkey of candidate
+	Assets          sdk.Rat         `json:"assets"`           // total shares of a global hold pools
+	Liabilities     sdk.Rat         `json:"liabilities"`      // total shares issued to a candidate's delegators
+	Description     Description     `json:"description"`      // Description terms for the candidate
+	ValidatorHeight uint64          `json:"validator_height"` // If considered a validator, height when first considered a validator, else 0
 }
 
 // Candidates - list of Candidates
@@ -73,12 +74,13 @@ type Candidates []Candidate
 // NewCandidate - initialize a new candidate
 func NewCandidate(address sdk.Address, pubKey crypto.PubKey, description Description) Candidate {
 	return Candidate{
-		Status:      Unbonded,
-		Address:     address,
-		PubKey:      pubKey,
-		Assets:      sdk.ZeroRat,
-		Liabilities: sdk.ZeroRat,
-		Description: description,
+		Status:          Unbonded,
+		Address:         address,
+		PubKey:          pubKey,
+		Assets:          sdk.ZeroRat,
+		Liabilities:     sdk.ZeroRat,
+		Description:     description,
+		ValidatorHeight: uint64(0),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -114,6 +116,7 @@ func (c Candidate) validator() Validator {
 		Address: c.Address,
 		PubKey:  c.PubKey,
 		Power:   c.Assets,
+		Height:  c.ValidatorHeight,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -127,6 +130,7 @@ type Validator struct {
 	Address sdk.Address   `json:"address"`
 	PubKey  crypto.PubKey `json:"pub_key"`
 	Power   sdk.Rat       `json:"voting_power"`
+	Height  uint64        `json:"height"` // If considered a validator, height when first considered a validator, else 0
 }
 
 // abci validator from stake validator type