On the eve of the fiveyear anniversary of the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision that acknowledged its reservation’s existence, the Muscogee Nation’s election board announced that 18 full citizens filed to run for one of the eight “B” seats during the 2025 Muscogee National Council election cycle. Two of the eight seats are open with no incumbent, although one of those seats drew no candidate at all. Two seats feature a former councilor defeated in 2021 filing for a rematch, while William Lowe, who lost reelection in 2023 while serving as speaker of the council, has filed to run again.

The Muscogee Nation holds elections every two years for its National Council and has eight districts, each with an “A” and a “B” seat. This year’s primary election is set for Saturday, Sept. 20. Any seats not decided by a candidate receiving majority support would head to a general election set for Saturday, Nov. 8.

“A” and “B” seat representatives are elected to four-year terms, with the “A” and “B” elections staggered every two years. Principal chief and second chief elections are held alongside “A” seats and are scheduled for 2027. Every Muscogee citizen may vote in each district’s election — although a proposed constitutional amendment could end that practice starting in 2027.

While no candidates stepped forward to run for Mvskoke Seat B when filing concluded at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, multiple candidates did file to campaign for every other office, giving the Muscogee Nation at least seven competitive elections this year.

“Full citizens” with one-quarter or higher blood quantum who are interested in filing for Seat B of the Mvskoke District — which covers the communities of Muskogee, Haskell, Boynton and Oktaha — will have a second chance to file Wednesday, July 16, according to the nation’s election code. If no candidates file for the seat again next week, a special election will be called by Principal Chief David Hill after the seat is vacated.

Candidate filings for office are unofficial until “a final review of candidate qualifications and the conclusion of the candidacy contestation period,” according to a Muscogee Nation Election Office Facebook post. The candidacy contestation period ended 5 p.m. Friday with no challenges filed.

18 file for Muscogee Nation legislative elections Muscogee Nation voters will have at least seven competitive legislative elections this summer. Incumbent Reps. Mark Randolph (Kowetv District) and Joyce C. Deere (Mvskoke District) did not file reelection. Six other incumbents did. Randolph was first elected in 2012, while Deere joined the council in 2013.

All Muscogee citizens are eligible to vote in every district’s election, with district boundaries only defining the geographic area for candidate residency To be eligible to hold or file for office, candidates must be Muscogee Nation “full citizens,” or possess a one-quarter or higher Creek blood quantum. Candidates also must be over “18 years of age,” have resided in their district for one year prior to filing, be registered to vote in Muscogee Nation elections for the six months prior to filing, have not had a felony conviction “within 10 years upon the date of filing,” and pay a $500 filing fee.

The following candidates filled for office during the Muscogee Nation’s filing period: Akfvske Seat B Sandra Golden, the incumbent representative since 2021 who previously served from 2001 to 2005; and Russell Wind, a candidate for the office in 2021.

Creek Seat B Cody Phillips, a former Tulsa Public Schools teacher currently working at Bristow Public Schools; and Patrick Freeman Jr., an incumbent Muscogee National Council representative since 2017.

Kowetv Seat B James Factor, a former member of the Seminole Nation Gaming Commission from 2006 to 2009 and the owner of Tribal Gaming Ventures since 2018; and Timothy Jackson, a candidate for the office in 2017.

McIntosh Seat B Adam Jones III, a former councilor who served from 2008 to 2021 before losing reelection to Cloud during a cycle that saw four incumbents ousted; Jeff Francis Jr., a member of the Checotah Indian Community; and Galen Cloud, the incumbent Muscogee National Council representative who defeated Jones in 2021.

Okmulke Seat B Joshua Wind, a committee specialist for the Community Research and Development Department of the Muscogee Nation; Nelson Harjo Sr., the incumbent Muscogee National Council representative since 2021; and William Lowe, the current executive director of the Muscogee Nation Tourism Authority and former speaker of the Muscogee National Council who was defeated in 2023 while seeking reelection to Okmulke Seat A.

Tukvpvtce Seat B Thomasene Yahola Osborn, the incumbent Muscogee National Council representative since 2017; and Elizabeth Gover-Miller, tribal administrator for the Thlopthlocco Tribal Town since May 2025.

Tvlse Seat B Ashley Wolfvoice, a small business owner; Lahoma Schultz, a licensed psychologist and counselor; Leonard Gouge, the incumbent Muscogee National Council representative since 2021; and Lucian Tiger III, a former council who served from 2013 to 2021 before losing reelection to Gouge.

Constitutional amendment would restore district voting boundary On Oct. 22, 2024, the Muscogee National Council passed a bill proposing an amendment to the nation’s constitution that, if approved by voters, would restore district-limited voting in the Muscogee Nation. The proposed amendment would not remove a separate constitutional provision guaranteeing the rights of Muscogee citizens living at-large to select a district and vote in that district.

The proposed amendment would alter several provisions of the nation’s constitution, with the main effect being to limit voters to one district instead of allowing voters to vote in every district. The proposal also includes a few procedural changes, such as new names — Mvskoke, Tvlse and Kowetv — for some of the nation’s districts.

The constitutional amendment is slated to appear on Muscogee voters’ Sept. 20 ballots.