Chuck Hoskin Jr. pledged that if re-elected, he would continue his work preserving the
Cherokee language, building more hospitals, providing
job training for Cherokee citizens, and addressing the
opioid crisis.
Cara Cowan Watts touted her status as the only woman in the race; if elected, she would be the Cherokee Nation's first female principal chief since 2011. She promised to address the healthcare worker shortage while also improving education and housing.
Wes Nofire said his top priority would be to reduce wasteful spending by the Cherokee government.
David Cornsilk pledged to reform the tribal court system and increase access to healthcare and housing.[4]
Hoskin's challengers accused him of mismanaging
COVID relief funds, giving unnecessary pay raises to elected officials, not doing enough to preserve Cherokee culture, and failing to ensure adequate staffing at healthcare facilities. He defended his record on these issues, though he also acknowledged the staffing issue and proposed expanding
telehealth.[5]
Legal issues
Cara Cowan Watts and
David Walkingstick's campaigns were barred by the
Cherokee Nation district court from operating a "registration checker" on their campaign website that allowed users to look up Cherokee voters' names and addresses by an
injunction after the court ruled its operation violated the Cherokee Nation Election Law and Privacy Act. Walkingstick's attorney, former Cherokee Nation principal chief
Chad Smith, described the ruling as a "political stunt."[6]