Leech Lake, White Earth, Mille Lacs Bands Release General Election Results

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe band members voted Tuesday in elections across the state, and official results are now in from local tribes.

The Leech Lake Election Board has certified the results of its 2024 general election, and incumbent Tribal Chairperson Faron Jackson, Sr. has won another term in office. Jackson picked up 63% of the vote to top Gerald White, who received 37%.

In the race for District III Representative, it was Leon Staples, Jr. emerging victorious with about 62% of the vote compared to Glen “Tuffy” Fisher’s 38%. Details for the July 2024 inauguration ceremony will be released in the next few weeks.

White Earth Nation also released official results yesterday, with Michael Fairbanks winning the Tribal Chairperson election. Fairbanks tallied about 56% of the vote to top Eugene “Umsy” Tibbetts, who gathered around 44% of the vote.

The District III Committeeperson election went to Laura Lee (Thompson) Erickson. She picked up 57% of the vote while Cheryl “Annie” Jackson received 43%.

And the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe posted official certified results Wednesday as well, with Carolyn Marie Beaulieu winning the District I Representative race over Valerie Charissa Harrington-Wind.

No election was held for Mille Lacs Chief Executive on Tuesday as in April, Virgil Wind won the seat with 67% of the vote in the primary election.