2023 Cherokee Nation principal chief election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2023 Cherokee Nation principal chief election
| flag_image = Flag of the Cherokee Nation.svg
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2019 Cherokee Nation principal chief election
| previous_year = 2019
| next_election = 2027 Cherokee Nation principal chief election
| next_year = 2027
| election_date = June 3, 2023
| image2 = File:Cara Cowan Watts Portiat 2023 (cropped).jpg
| candidate2 = Cara Cowan Watts
| color2 = c0c0c0
| popular_vote2 = 4,095
| percentage2 = 23.89%
| image1 = Chuck Hoskin, Jr. speaking, 2019 (cropped) 2.jpg
| candidate1 = Chuck Hoskin Jr.
| color1 = c0c0c0
| popular_vote1 = 10,756
| percentage1 = 62.76%
| image3 = 3x4.svg
| candidate3 = Wes Nofire
| color3 = c0c0c0
| popular_vote3 = 1,720
| percentage3 = 10.04%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = Principal Chief
| before_election = Chuck Hoskin Jr.
| after_election = Chuck Hoskin Jr.
}}
The 2023 Cherokee Nation principal chief election was held on June 3, 2023, concurrently with the 2023 Cherokee Nation tribal council elections and 2023 Cherokee Nation deputy chief election, to elect the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. Incumbent principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. ran for re-election to a second term in office with incumbent deputy chief Bryan Warner as his running mate and was re-elected to a second term.{{efn|Principal chief and deputy chief are elected separately, but some candidates campaign together as running mates.{{cite news |last1=Crumbacher |first1=Katrina |title=Three challenge Hoskin Jr. in race for Cherokee Nation principal chief |url=https://nondoc.com/2023/05/31/cherokee-nation-principal-chief-general-election/ |access-date=3 June 2023 |work=NonDoc |date=May 31, 2023}}}}
Candidates
=Declared=
- David Cornsilk, genealogist and former Bureau of Indian Affairs researcher{{cite news |last1=Serrano |first1=Sara |title=Cherokee Nation candidates lining up to file |url=https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/cherokee-nation-candidates-lining-up-to-file/article_fcce861a-4ce0-5b04-b7fa-a75823d2f54f.html |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Tahlequah Daily Press |date=January 25, 2023}}
- Cara Cowan Watts, former Deputy Speaker of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council and candidate for principal chief in 2015
- Running mate: David Walkingstick, former tribal councilor and candidate for principal chief in 2019
- Chuck Hoskin Jr., incumbent principal chief{{cite news |title=Hoskin, Warner kick off re-election campaign |url=https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/hoskin-warner-kick-off-re-election-campaign/article_fb09d91c-321d-53d0-bc37-24c0dd3f1bac.html |access-date=4 March 2023 |work=Tahlequah Daily Press |date=December 15, 2022}}
- Running mate: Bryan Warner, incumbent deputy chief
- Wes Nofire, tribal councilor and candidate for {{ushr|OK|2}} in 2022
Campaign
Chuck Hoskin Jr. pledged that if re-elected, he would continue his work preserving the Cherokee language, building more hospitals, providing job training for Cherokee citizens, and addressing the opioid crisis. Cara Cowan Watts touted her status as the only woman in the race; if elected, she would be the Cherokee Nation's first female principal chief since 2011. She promised to address the healthcare worker shortage while also improving education and housing. Wes Nofire said his top priority would be to reduce wasteful spending by the Cherokee government. David Cornsilk pledged to reform the tribal court system and increase access to healthcare and housing.{{cite news |last1=Deggs |first1=Kaitlyn |title=Four Candidates Face Off for Principla Chief in Cherokee Nation Elections |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/63ec29cb1d10b6193245a744/four-candidates-face-off-for-principal-chief-in-cherokee-nation-elections |access-date=25 May 2023 |work=KOTV-DT |date=February 14, 2023}}
Hoskin's challengers accused him of mismanaging COVID relief funds, giving unnecessary pay raises to elected officials, not doing enough to preserve Cherokee culture, and failing to ensure adequate staffing at healthcare facilities. He defended his record on these issues, though he also acknowledged the staffing issue and proposed expanding telehealth.{{cite news |last1=Herrera |first1=Allison |title=Cherokee Nation Principal, Deputy Chief candidates debate issues in Tahlequah |url=https://www.kosu.org/politics/2023-04-28/cherokee-nation-principal-deputy-chief-candidates-debate-issues-in-tahlequah |access-date=25 May 2023 |work=KOSU |date=April 28, 2023}}
=Legal issues=
Cara Cowan Watts and David Walkingstick's campaigns were barred by the Cherokee Nation district court from operating a "registration checker" on their campaign website that allowed users to look up Cherokee voters' names and addresses by an injunction after the court ruled its operation violated the Cherokee Nation Election Law and Privacy Act. Walkingstick's attorney, former Cherokee Nation principal chief Chad Smith, described the ruling as a "political stunt."{{cite news |last1=Hunter |first1=Chad |title=Court orders halt to release of Cherokee voter info |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/cn_election_2023/court-orders-halt-to-release-of-cherokee-voter-info/article_e910edae-f034-11ed-9202-f72a99fa20d2.html |access-date=25 May 2023 |work=Cherokee Phoenix |date=May 11, 2023}}
Results
{{Election results
|cand1=Chuck Hoskin Jr.|votes1=10756
|cand2=Cara Cowan Watts|votes2=4095
|cand3=Wes Nofire|votes3=1720
|cand4=David Cornsilk|votes4=568
|invalid=36
|electorate=
}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
Official campaign websites
- [https://www.caracowanwatts.com/ Cara Cowan Watts for Principal Chief]
- [https://hoskinwarner.com/ Chuck Hoskin Jr. for Principal Chief]
- [https://www.wesnofire.com/ Wes Nofire for Principal Chief]
{{Cherokee}}
{{2023 United States elections}}
Cherokee Nation principal chief
Category:21st-century Cherokee history