Former Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. defeated Tribal Councilman Dick Lay in the election.

[1][2] A third candidate, Tribal Councilman David Walkingstick, also appeared on the ballot, but was disqualified due to campaign finance violations days before the election.

Incumbent Principal Chief Bill John Baker was unable to seek re-election in 2019 due to term limits.

In the race for Deputy Chief, Bryan Warner defeated former Tribal Council Speaker Meredith Frailey 58.88% to 41.12%.

Cherokees for Change argued that its funding and actions were allowed following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v.

[14] Although Walkingstick claimed no coordination existed between the PAC and his campaign, election officials determined he had violated tribal law and accepted donations from corporate entities on May 17.

[19] The petitioners accused the winning candidates of accepting illegal in-kind contributions and other campaign finance violations;[20] however, the Cherokee Supreme Court found the complaints to be without merit.