Wes Nofire

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Nofire ran for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022. [24] He was one of sixteen candidates for the seat in the Republican primary. [25] During the campaign, Nofire was criticized by fellow Tribal Councilor Candessa Tehee for calling the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision "the biggest threat to Oklahomans” at a Bartlesville campaign stop. She described his statements as "border[ing] on being treasonous and traitorous to Cherokee Nation.” [26] He placed seventh and failed to qualify for the runoff. [27] Nofire endorsed Governor Kevin Stitt in his re-election campaign. [23]

2023 Cherokee Nation principal chief campaign

Nofire announced his intent to run for Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation with Ryan Dirteater on his ticket as deputy chief. Dirteater later announced that he would not be submitting his paperwork to the election board. On February 9 Nofire filed for election with the Cherokee Nation Election Board without Dirteater on his ticket. [28] He lost the election to incumbent principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. [29]

Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison

On September 5, 2023, Nofire was appointed the Native American Affairs Liaison of Oklahoma by Governor Kevin Stitt. [30] His appointment was criticized by Cherokee Nation officials with Chuck Hoskin Jr. calling it "disappointing" and Speaker of the Tribal Council Mike Shambaugh describing the appointment as "very disturbing." [23] Shambaugh later published an op-ed in the Cherokee Phoenix comparing Nofire to General George Armstrong Custer's Native American scouts and criticizing his appointment because of his "peddl[ing] in fact-free unhinged and ideologically extreme conspiracy theories that pose a danger of political violence" such as the Jewish Indian theory, implying principal chief Hoskins is "the biblical 'beast'" otherwise known as Satan, and accusing the Cherokee Nation of child trafficking. [31] [32] The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes unanimously voted to approve a resolution expressing no confidence in Nofire and describing the Native American Affairs Liaison position as ineffective under Governor Stitt. [33]

Electoral history

Wes Nofire
Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 5, 2023
2019 Cherokee Nation Tribal Council - District 3 General Election Results 6/1/2019
CandidateEarly VotesAbsentee VotesElection Day VotesTotal VotesTotal Percentage
RJ Robbins17207611310.74%
Debra Proctor1018312230629.09%
Jim Cosby2910641039.79%
Brandon Girty458171.62%
Billy Flint29296612411.79%
Larry Dean Pritchett221245797.51%
Wes Nofire776317031029.47%
CandidateEarly VotesAbsentee VotesElection Day VotesTotal VotesTotal Percentage
Wes Nofire1999924254063.75%
Debra Proctor128859430736.25%
Republican primary results for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district in 2022 [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Avery Frix 11,336 14.7
Republican Josh Brecheen 10,579 13.8
Republican Johnny Teehee9,96313.0
Republican John Bennett 8,71311.3
Republican Guy Barker 8,44411.0
Republican Marty Quinn 5,6127.3
Republican Wes Nofire4,8596.3
Republican David Derby 4,2045.5
Republican Chris Schiller4,1085.3
Republican Dustin Roberts 3,7464.9
Republican Pamela Gordon2,3443.0
Republican Rhonda Hopkins1,2811.7
Republican Clint Johnson1,1281.5
Republican Erick Wyatt6150.8
Total votes76,932 100.0
2023 Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Election [29]
CandidateVotes %
Chuck Hoskin Jr. (incumbent)10,55662.9%
Cara Cowan Watts 4,00823.88%
Wes Nofire1,6739.97%
David Cornsilk 5463.25%
Total votes16,783 100%

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References

  1. ↑ Chavez, Will (10 June 2013). "Cherokee Boxer Adds Fight Promoter to Repertoire". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  2. ↑ "John Wesley Nofire Boxing Record". fightnights.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  3. 1 2 "Nofire seeks District 3 seat on Tribal Council". Tahlequah Daily Press. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  4. ↑ "Cherokee Nation Education Services". Cherokee Nation Education Services. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  5. ↑ Carlson, Jenni. "Pride of the People Thousands are united behind Sequoyah". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  6. ↑ "2010 National Golden Gloves Results". Team USA. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Iron Mike Productions Presents Live Boxing – Featuring Wes Nofire (Cherokee Nation)". 16 October 2014. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  8. ↑ "Cherokee boxer punching his way up". Cherokee Phoenix . 2 April 2013. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  9. ↑ Dreadfulwater, Mark (12 September 2011). "Cherokee citizen wins professional boxing debut". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  10. ↑ Dreadfulwater, Mark (12 September 2011). "Cherokee citizen wins professional boxing debut". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  11. ↑ Dreadfulwater Digital Media, Mark (28 November 2011). "CN citizen wins 2nd pro boxing bout". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  12. ↑ "corpInformation". www.sos.ok.gov. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  13. ↑ Chavez, Will (10 June 2013). "Cherokee boxer adds fight promoter to repertoire". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  14. ↑ BAILEY, ERIC (19 July 2013). "Cherokee boxer Wes Nofire aims to remain undefeated at Hard Rock event". Tulsa World . Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  15. ↑ Random Hits (31 May 2018). "Kauffman-Alexander Tops PBC Tripleheader, No Antonio Tarver". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  16. ↑ "Gerald Washington Decisions Wes Nofire: Spencer, Hunter Win". BoxingScene.com. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  17. ↑ "Nofire seeks District 3 seat on Tribal Council". Tahlequah Daily Press. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  18. ↑ "Legislative Branch". Cherokee Nation Website. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  19. ↑ "Cumulative Report - Official - Cherokee Nation - General Election" (PDF). 2019-06-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-07-31. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  20. ↑ Rowley, D. Sean (2 June 2019). "Updated: Nofire, Proctor headed for Dist. 3 runoff". cherokeephoenix.org. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  21. ↑ Tahlequah, Chad Smith. "Letter to the Editor: Former Cherokee Nation principal chief provides his endorsements". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  22. ↑ "2019 Runoff Election Results" (PDF). Elections.Cherokee.org. Cherokee Nation Election Commission. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  23. 1 2 3 Rowley, D. Sean (September 6, 2023). "Nofire appointed Native American liaison by Stitt". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  24. ↑ "Tribal councilor, Tahlequah native Nofire to make D2 bid for Congress". Tahlequah Daily Press. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  25. ↑ Gore, Hogan (22 April 2022). "16 candidates comprise the field in dash for eastern Oklahoma congressional seat". The Oklahoman . Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  26. ↑ Hunter, Chad (31 May 2022). "Nofire's McGirt statements called 'clearly treasonous'". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  27. 1 2 "June 28 2022". okelections.us. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  28. ↑ Serrano, Sara (2023-02-09). "Cherokee Nation filing period closes with 41 candidates running". Tahlequah Daily Press. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  29. 1 2 Hunter, Chad (June 4, 2023). "Unofficial vote points to landslide Hoskin re-election". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  30. ↑ Young, Molly (September 5, 2023). "Oklahoma governor taps new Native affairs liaison as criticism from tribal leaders grows". The Oklahoman . Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  31. ↑ Mike, Shambaugh (September 8, 2023). "OPINION: Custer had his scouts. Governor Stitt has Wes Nofire". Cherokee Phoenix . Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  32. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (September 8, 2023). "Political notebook: State tax revenue continues lower". Tulsa World . Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  33. ↑ Young, Molly (September 21, 2023). "Five Tribes vote no confidence in Governor Stitt's new liaison for Native affairs". The Oklahoman . Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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