Unofficial Results: Bill John Baker Re-Elected As Cherokee Principal Chief

Unofficial results indicate Principal Chief Bill John Baker has been re-elected by Cherokee Nation tribal members. The election commission will certify the results Sunday afternoon.

Four candidates were in the running for the position including Baker, Will Fourkiller, Charlie Soap and Chad Smith.

Smith was voted out of office in 2011 in a contentious election that involved months of controversy, two elections and multiple recounts before Baker was sworn in.

It appears Deputy Chief S. Joe Crittenden has also won his re-election bid with 62.52 percent of the unofficial vote tallies.

Unofficial results

Principal Chief: 

• Bill John Baker - 9,786 votes, 52.66 percent
• Chad Smith - 5,214 votes, 28.06 percent
• Will Fourkiller - 1,950 votes, 10.49 percent 
• Charlie Soap - 1,633 votes, 8.79 percent

Deputy Chief:

• S. Joe Crittenden - 11,436 votes, 62.52 percent
• Lee Keener - 6,856 votes, 37.48 percent

Challenged ballots are still to be tabulated later Sunday but are not expected to change the results.