2019 Cherokee Nation principal chief election

2019 Cherokee Nation principal chief election
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Candidate Chuck Hoskin Jr. Dick Lay David Walkingstick
(disqualified)
Running mate Bryan Warner none Meredith Frailey
Popular vote 7,933 3,856 2,006
Percentage 57.51% 27.95% 14.54%
Principal Chief before election

Bill John Baker

 Elected Principal Chief

Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

The 2019 Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma principal chief election was held on Saturday, June 1, 2019. Former Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. defeated Tribal Councilman Dick Lay in the election.[1][2]

A third candidate, Tribal Councilman David Walkingstick, also appeared on the ballot, but was disqualified due to campaign finance violations days before the election.[3][4][5] Rhonda Brown-Fleming, the first Cherokee Freedman descendant to run for principal chief, was disqualified in March after the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court ruled she did not meet tribal residency requirements.[6] Federal courts affirmed the decision just before the election.[7]

The principal chief is the chief executive of the Cherokee Nation. Incumbent Principal Chief Bill John Baker was unable to seek re-election in 2019 due to term limits.[8]

  1. ^ Rowley, D. Sean (June 2, 2019). "Hoskin wins Cherokee Nation principal chief race". Cherokee Phoenix. Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  2. ^ "Cherokee Nation leadership election set for Saturday". Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Associated Press. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  3. ^ Hunter, Chad (May 17, 2019). "Walkingstick disqualified from Cherokee Nation chief's race". Cherokee Phoenix. Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "A 'stolen' election? Cherokee Nation proceeds to vote without candidate David Walkingstick". Indianz.com. May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Crawford, Grant D. (May 24, 2019). "Court delays Walkingstick decision". Tahlequah Daily Press. Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  6. ^ Brown, Denieca (May 22, 2019). "Disqualification of 1st Black Cherokee chief candidate reignites racism debate". Rolling Out. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  7. ^ Hunter, Chad (May 31, 2019). "Federal judge nixes Brown's case to rejoin chief race". Cherokee Phoenix. Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Dekker, Michael (October 31, 2018). "Cherokee Supreme Court rules chief can't seek a third consecutive term". Tulsa World. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Retrieved May 20, 2019.