OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – While a new election has been ordered in the close and hard-fought race for principal chief of Oklahoma's largest American Indian tribe, one thing is certain: If incumbent Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith wins another term, he won't serve with his running mate.

Tribal councilman S. Joe Crittenden defeated Smith's running mate, Chris Soap, in a runoff for the deputy chief's post, according to vote totals the tribal election commission certified Sunday. Crittenden received 6,478 votes, or 53.2 percent, while Soap, received 5,706 votes.

Crittenden likely will serve for a time as interim principal chief because the tribal Supreme Court has ordered a new election between Smith and longtime tribal councilman Bill John Baker and it's unlikely to be held before Smith's term ends Aug. 14. The court ordered the new election after four vote counts in the principal chief's election each yielded different results.

Soap, the stepson of the late, legendary Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller, led a four-candidate field during the original June 25 election for deputy chief with about 47 percent of the vote. Crittenden received only about 36 percent, but the other two candidates in the race, Callie Hathcoat and Raymond Vann, endorsed him in the runoff, as did Baker, who campaigned without a running mate during the general election.

Baker celebrated Crittenden's victory in the runoff and used it to take another swipe at Smith as the two look ahead to the principal chief's election.

“I think Joe's win ... further proves that Cherokees are ready to take our nation from good to great,” Baker said in a statement. “As Soap ran hand-in-hand with Chad Smith I think this is yet another blow to Smith's attempt to hang onto power for a fourth term.”

Soap acknowledged “the voters have chosen a different direction for the Cherokee Nation” and said he respected that decision.

“The future of our people is far more important than any one election,” Soap said in a statement. “There is no doubt that we are facing a difficult time in the history of our nation. But we have endured difficult times before, and we have prevailed.”

The most recent recount in the tribe's election for principal chief put Smith ahead by four votes. But the tribal Supreme Court threw out that election's results Thursday, saying it was impossible to determine with a mathematical certainty which candidate won. Smith is responsible for setting the date of the new election, but hasn't yet done so.

Tribal Attorney General Diane Hammons said in an opinion dated Friday with a new election unlikely to be held before Smith's third term ends, the office will become empty and the deputy chief will serve as principal chief until a new one is installed.

With about 300,000 members, the Cherokee Nation is one of the nation's largest tribes. The principal chief, similar to a U.S. president, administers a $600 million annual tribal budget, has veto power and sets the tribe's national agenda, which is important given that many members live outside Oklahoma. The chief also oversees the tribe's casinos, health care facilities and thousands of the nation's employees.   

Unofficial results for the June 25 election showed Baker with an 11-vote lead, but certified results released June 27 put Smith ahead by seven votes. A hand recount requested by Baker showed him ahead by 266 votes. The official results of a second recount, requested by Smith, put him ahead by four votes Tuesday, but that's one fewer than in the unofficial results announced July 17.