Phyliss J. Anderson. Photo
from FacebookChief Phyllis Anderson has won another term as the leader of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, according to the unofficial results. Anderson, the first woman to lead the tribe, was locked in a close run-off with Beasley Denson, a former chief. At one point, only a few dozen votes separated the pair as tallies rolled in from Tuesday's election. But now that absentee ballots have been counted, Anderson has come out on top. The unofficial results show her with 1,907 votes to 1,745 for Denson.
Beasley Denson. Photo from Facebook
The votes will be recounted once more before they can be certified by the election commission. Only then will the official winner be declared. Anderson first defeated Denson, who only served one term, in 2011. She actually beat him twice that year -- a second election was held after the tribal council invalidated the results of the first one. Denson later blamed his loss on an FBI raid of the tribe's gaming facilities, a probe that does not appear to have resulted in any charges against anyone. Get the Story:
Anderson wins Choctaw Chief (The Jackson Clarion Ledger 7/2)
Choctaw Chief Future Plans (WTOK 7/2)
Chief Anderson apparent winner in run-off (The Neshoba Democrat 7/2)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Mississippi Band of
Choctaw Indians heads to run-off for chief (06/10) Mississippi Choctaws in final stretch of campaign for chief position (6/8)
Mississippi Choctaw chief faces slew of challengers for top seat (04/29)
First woman to lead Mississippi Choctaws opens re-election bid (04/13)
Incoming Mississippi Choctaw chief looks for financial stability (09/08)
Phyliss J. Anderson wins election as Mississippi Choctaw chief (09/07)
Mississippi Choctaws headed to polls for another chief election (09/05)
Mississippi Choctaw council won't reverse order for new election (7/22)
Phyliss Anderson: Mississippi Choctaws deserve new leadership (7/15)
Beasley Denson: Mississippi Choctaw election tainted by others (7/15)
Editorial: Democracy tested with Mississippi Choctaw election (7/14)
Mississippi Choctaw council orders new election for chief's post (7/11)
Editorial: Mississippi Choctaws make history with woman leader (7/8)
First woman to lead Mississippi Choctaws wants to be called chief (7/7)
Mississippi Choctaws pick Phyliss Anderson as first woman chief (7/6)
Mississippi Choctaw chief and top rival head to run-off in July (6/16)
Unofficial results from election for Mississippi Choctaw chief (6/15)
Another candidate enters Mississippi Choctaw chief race (4/21)
Candidate for Mississippi Choctaw chief challenges incumbent (3/22)
