One tight poll. One contentious debate. Daily back-and-forth on social media. Oklahoma’s Republican gubernatorial primary is drawing no shortage of attention. It will all culminate next Tuesday, Aug. 25, when Republican voters decide whether to elect Gentner Drummond or Mike Mazzei as their nominee for governor. Drummond, a rancher, banker and sitting attorney general from […]
Government
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GOP candidates vow to tackle soaring insurance rates, but differ on solution
The two candidates hoping to secure the Republican nomination for insurance commissioner are vowing to address Oklahoma’s soaring property insurance rates, but differ on how to approach the issue. Marty Quinn and Bob Sullivan, who will appear on GOP voter’s Aug. 25 primary runoff ballot, both said their decades of experience in the insurance industry […]
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Democracy Watch: Previewing the Democratic Runoff for U.S. Senate
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 […]
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Drummond to release drug test ahead of Oklahoma’s GOP primary
Gentner Drummond said he will release copies of his financial and health records to the public after being challenged to do so by a debate moderator. The Republican gubernatorial candidate, who serves as Oklahoma’s attorney general, also told Oklahoma Voice during an interview Thursday that he plans to go a step further and also release […]
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Educators face off in GOP race for Oklahoma superintendent
The Republican nomination for Oklahoma state superintendent will go to one of two longtime educators — either an experienced school administrator who decries political partisanship or a high school teacher and Christian minister who says his insight from the classroom could benefit schools statewide. Robert Franklin and James Taylor advanced to the Aug. 25 runoff election as […]
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Inola Smelter Questions Surface Ahead of Tonight’s GOP Governor Debate
Oklahoma First (@OKFirst2026) raised questions about the timeline surrounding Mike Mazzei’s position on the proposed Inola smelter project. According to the post: On April 9, Mike Mazzei attended the Freedom Caucus debate, where he expressed opposition to the Inola smelter. This was after Wallace Design, where Mazzei’s brother Dan Mazzei is a principal, was reportedly […]
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Oklahoma Gubernatorial Hopeful AWOL From Police Pension Board
Oklahoma GOP gubernatorial hopeful Mike Mazzei has missed three-fourths of the monthly meetings of the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement Board since being appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in March 2023.
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Primary Recap
Oklahoma’s June 16 primary election did more than narrow crowded fields. It sent a message loud enough for every candidate, consultant, and lawmaker to hear: Oklahomans are tired of chaos. Across the state, voters chose between serious public service and another round of ideological warfare. In race after race, they pushed back against candidates openly […]
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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.