Sixteen Osages filed for candidacy seeking a seat on the 9th Osage Nation Congress with five incumbents seeking re-election and seven individuals, including three prior-year candidates and two prior Congresswomen also seeking election.
There are six seats opening in the 2024 General Election, which will be held June 3 and each seat will have a four-year term. The list of candidates is subject to certification consideration by the Wahzhazhe Elections Board, which next meets on March 18.
With five Congress members seeking re-election, Congresswoman Paula Stabler did not file for candidacy by the March 12 deadline and her current term will end in July when the election winners take their oaths of office.
On the final day of the candidate filing period, Jacque Jones became the 16th and last Osage tribal member to file candidacy with the Wahzhazhe Elections Office in Pawhuska. Jones previously ran for Congressional office in the General Elections held in 2022, 2016 and 2014.
Earlier that afternoon, Brooklin Sweezy was the 15th individual to file for candidacy. This is Sweezy’s first run for Osage elected office.
On March 8, Alexis Martin filed for candidacy and was the 14th candidate to do so. This is the first time Martin, who works for the Nation’s Counseling Center, is seeking ON elected office.
The day before, Patrick Cullen-Carroll became the 13th individual to file for candidacy. This is also the first time Cullen-Carroll, who is a seasoned weightlifting coach, is seeking Congressional office.
On March 6, Liberty Metcalf became the 12th individual to file for candidacy. This is the second time Metcalf will run for Congressional office. He also ran for Congress in the 2022 General Election.
Tina Allen filed for candidacy as the 11th individual shortly before Metcalf that same day. This is Allen’s second time as a Congressional candidate after running in the 2018 General Election.
On March 1, Angela Pratt and Maria Whitehorn filed as the ninth and tenth candidates.
Both Pratt and Whitehorn have served two terms on the 12-member Congress and each held the Congressional Speaker post in separate years during their tenures. Pratt served from 2014 to 2022 and Whitehorn served from 2012 to 2020.
On Feb. 29, Christa Fulkerson filed as the eighth candidate, which is her first time seeking elected ON office. She is a former Grants Management Department director under the Nation’s Executive Branch.
Earlier that morning, William Kemble filed as the seventh candidate and is also as a first-time Congressional candidate. Kemble works in the accounting/ audit sector and previously held the ON Treasurer’s post (2010-2012).
On Feb. 23, Pam Shaw filed as the sixth candidate and is seeking re-election for a second Congressional term.
The first five candidates to file running for Congress are Billy Keene (incumbent), Traci Phillips, and incumbents Jodie Revard, John Maker and Joe Tillman.
Those seeking Congressional Office must be enrolled Osages, at least 25 years old on Election Day and have never been convicted of a felony, according to the 2006 Osage Constitution.
At the time of filing for candidacy, prospective candidates must show proof of having a separate bank account in the candidate’s name or the candidate’s campaign. All candidates will be required to provide two campaign reporting statements listing campaign donations and expenditures out of the campaign bank account, according to the election rules and regulations.
For more information on the elections, filing for candidacy, or to register or update addresses for voting, and to request absentee ballots, contact the Election Office toll-free at (877) 560-5286 or visit: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/what-we-do/elections
