Unofficial results: Baker re-elected to lead Cherokee Nation

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) – Unofficial election results show that Cherokee Principal Chief Bill John Baker has been elected to a second term to lead the Oklahoma-based tribe.

The tribal election commission released the initial results early Sunday and plans to begin processing about 700 contested ballots. If the results hold, Baker will continue to lead one of the largest American Indian tribes, with about 320,000 citizens and 9,000 employees.

Baker had about 53 percent of the vote against three challengers, placing him above the 50 percent threshold needed to win the election outright. The results show he bested former Cherokee Chief Chad Smith, state Representative Will Fourkiller, and Charlie Soap, the widower of late Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller.

The 2011 contest for chief was bitter, costly and mired by recounts.