By Paige Orr, Fox23 News
PAWHUSKA, Okla. — The Osage Nation is preparing for its most significant shift in executive leadership in more than a decade as voters cast their ballots in a historic primary election on Monday.
For the first time in 12 years, the office of the Principal Chief is an open race. Current Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, who has led the nation since 2014, is not seeking re-election for the top seat. This transition, combined with the upcoming departure of the Assistant Principal Chief, has created a rare political vacuum that is driving high engagement across the reservation.
“This is the first time in 12 years without an incumbent on the ballot for principal chief,” said Shannon Lockett, Chairman of the Wahzhazhe Election Board. “I think we’ve seen maybe a little more enthusiastic campaigning on the parts of the three candidates. They’ve been working hard to get their word out and get people to come in and vote for them.”
The race to succeed Standing Bear features three candidates: Amanda GoodEagle, Joe Tillman, and Scott BigHorse. BigHorse, a current Osage Congressman, is vacating his legislative seat to pursue the executive office. The change at the top is mirrored in the race for Assistant Principal Chief, as incumbent R.J. Walker is also stepping down this July.
Candidate John Shaw, who is running for the Assistant Principal Chief seat, noted the weight of the moment as he greeted voters in Pawhuska. He noted that because Chief Standing Bear has been in his position for so long, this is the first time many younger voters will experience a change in that top tier of leadership.
“Chief Jeff Standing Bear, he’s been in his position since 2014, so this will be the first time that we’re going to have a change of that leadership,” Shaw said. “Also, our current Assistant Chief will also be stepping down in July from that position, so we’ll have a new Assistant Chief as well.”
The high stakes have already resulted in record-breaking participation. According to election officials, early voting on Friday and Saturday saw the highest turnout in the nation’s history for those specific days. Lockett attributed the surge in part to the decision to move the polling site back to “The Hill” at its original location in Pawhuska, a move she said resonated deeply with the community’s elders.
The primary serves as a qualifying round for the three candidates in each race. Once the polls close Monday night, the field will be narrowed down to the top two vote-getters for both Principal Chief and Assistant Principal Chief.
While the political competition is intense, the atmosphere at the polls remained rooted in Osage tradition and family. Candidate Myron Red Eagle, who is competing against his own nephew, John Shaw, for the Assistant Chief position, emphasized that the election is about the future of the culture and the struggles of the people.
“Even though we’re opposing one another, he still calls me uncle, and I still call him nephew, and so I wish him the best of luck, and I’m sure he does the same for me,” Red Eagle said.
The results of Monday’s primary will be announced live on the steps of the Osage Nation election office, continuing a tradition that dates back more than a century. The two finalists in each race will then move forward to the General Election, which is scheduled for June 1.
For more information on the candidates and the upcoming general election, visit the Osage Nation Election Board website.
