Keith Austin

In 2015, Austin ran against William "Bill" Pearson for the 14th District of the Cherokee Nation tribal council seat in a race to succeed Lee Keener. Keener had retired to run for deputy chief.^[3] In June, Pearson won the initial general election by one vote, leading Austin to file for a recount.^[4] After the recount, both candidates vote totals decreased, and Pearson maintained a 6-vote lead.^[5] In July, Austin appealed to the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court arguing "14 votes were cast and shouldn't have been, three were rejected that should have been accepted and two ballots were lost."^[6] The court ruled for a new election to be held alongside the already scheduled runoff elections that month.^[7] Austin won the new election with 53% of the vote.^[8] He was sworn on August 14, 2015.^[9] In 2019, Austin ran for re-election and faced former tribal councilor Cara Cowan Watts in the general election; he defeated Watts with 56% of the vote.^[10] He was sworn in for his second term August 14, 2019.^[11] In 2022, Austin was a Republican primary candidate for the 2nd District of the Oklahoma Senate.^[12] He is term limited in 2023.^[13]

Austin is a member of Verdigris United Methodist Church. He is married to his wife Pam and has two children.^[1]