James

Incumbent Yurok Tribal Chairman Joseph L. James defeated challenger Susan Masten in Wednesday’s runoff election by a vote of 605 (52.84 percent) to 540 (47.16 percent), according to unofficial results released by the tribe. The tribe’s election board is scheduled to meet today to certify the results. 

James and Masten emerged as the top vote-getters among six candidates in the October primary. 

Masten, a lifelong political activist for Tribal and women’s rights, previously served as Yurok Tribal Chairperson from 1997-2003. She congratulated James on his victory last night in a Facebook post and urged her supporters to stay involved. 

James, whose long track record in tribal government includes work on fisheries, water policy, infrastructure and economic development, was first elected Yurok chairman in 2018.