Bill John Baker thought he won the race for principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma when unofficial results gave him the win by 11 votes.

But the tribe's election commission said its official results gave Chad Smith the win by 7 votes. Now Baker is going to court to seek answers about the close race.

"The more we learn about the vote counting process the more it doesn't add up," the Baker campaign said in a statement, The Tulsa World reported. "We're trying to get the facts and will accept nothing but an open and transparent process to determine the winner of this important election."

Baker wants the election commission to turn over more information about the vote count. A recount could start later this week, according to news reports.

Get the Story:
Baker campaign seeks injunction against Cherokee election commission (The Tulsa World 6/29)
Baker files emergency injunction petition with Supreme Court (The Cherokee Phoenix 6/28)
Cherokee Nation Prepares For A Recount In Contested Election (News on 6 6/28)

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