A younger, progressive candidate who is tapping into frustration over money in politics? Or a moderate who argues they’re more electable in a red state? Oklahoma Democrats are faced with that question as N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas and Jim Priest vie for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. It’s the only Democratic runoff race on the […]
Keaton Ross
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Spending on State Question 832 Exceeds $4 Million
Special interest groups and politically involved nonprofits are spending millions of dollars to influence Oklahoma voters on State Question 832, which seeks to incrementally raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2029. Since April 1, a mix of state question and political action committees have reported spending $4.17 million on state question communications. […]
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Republican Primaries for Governor, Attorney General Drive Record Outside Spending
Outside groups have reported nearly $26 million in independent expenditures ahead of the June 16 primary election, almost triple the amount spent in 2022. Several Republican candidates for governor say reform is needed.
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Democratic Primaries Set for Governor, State Superintendent
In deep-red Oklahoma, Republican primaries garner the bulk of political spending and advertising attention. But battles are also brewing among Democratic candidates for a variety of statewide and legislative offices. Oklahoma Democrats will select their preferred candidate for governor and state superintendent during the June 16 primary election. There are also noteworthy Democratic primaries in […]
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Legislature Sends Four State Questions to the Ballot
The Legislature adjourned sine die last week, but is counting on Oklahoma voters to approve several policies. Four legislatively-referred state questions will appear on the ballot in 2026: two in August and two in November. Voter approval is necessary when lawmakers seek to amend the state constitution. Proposed state questions to transfer money out of the […]
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A Crude Ad About a Banana — and a Primary That Could Tell Us Where the Republican Party is Headed
Oklahoma’s June Republican gubernatorial primary has become an unexpected test case for the future of GOP politics. Attorney General Gentner Drummond is betting voters want pragmatic leadership on education and mental health. Former House Speaker Charles McCall and two other candidates are wagering the culture-war playbook still wins primaries.
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Party Switching Deadline Approaches
Oklahoma’s biennial moratorium on switching political party affiliation is fast approaching. Tuesday, March 31 is the deadline to request a party change ahead of the June primary and August runoff elections. Requests received from April through August won’t be processed until Sept. 1. The state has long enforced the rule in even-numbered years to prevent […]
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Gubernatorial Candidates Rely on Personal Money to Launch Campaigns
Mike Mazzei, Charles McCall and Chip Keating have loaned themselves a combined $7.6 million ahead of the June 16 primary election. Unlike individual contributions, state ethics rules don’t cap self-funding.
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Bill Filing Deadline Approaches
The clock is ticking for lawmakers to submit their policy proposals for 2026. Thursday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for House and Senate members to introduce bills and joint resolutions before the Legislature convenes on Feb. 2. Rank-and-file House members are limited to eight bills per session, while House majority leadership and […]
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Political Parties Opt to Close Upcoming Primaries
For the first time in a decade, registered independents will be barred from voting in all partisan primaries for the next two years. The Oklahoma State Election Board announced on Dec. 10 that the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties did not file the necessary paperwork to open up their primaries to independents in 2026 and […]