My Picks for the 2026 Oklahoma GOP Primary

Tuesday, June 16th is the Oklahoma Primary Election, and voters all across the state will be heading to the polls to decide nominees in many different races. Some are already voting via absentee ballot. Hopefully the information in this post will be helpful with your voting plans. If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out.

Below are a few of my voting picks. Work and other commitments prevented me from getting into more detail on most of these races, but here are some basic thoughts. If I have any additions or changes as we approach election day, I will clearly note them. I have included links to additional helpful resources, endorsements, and voter guides at the bottom:

STATEWIDE RACES:

Governor: Jake Merrick, or Mike Mazzei. If I vote based on principle, I believe that Jake Merrick most closely aligns with my conservative political philosophy. I have publicly said that Merrick's initial campaign strategy was... not very smart, but ideologically, I think we line up well. 

If I were to vote based more on pragmatism, Mike Mazzei is the conservative with the best shot at winning and beating Gentner Drummond, especially now that President Trump has endorsed Mazzei. While Mazzei is supported by some good folks (including Congressman Josh Brecheen), there are some things about Mazzei that I am disappointed in, particularly his absolutely dishonest (and ill-advised) defense of a bad vote he made during his time in the state senate. The manner in which he is misrepresenting that case has given me and my wife enough reason to pause and reconsider. I'm also concerned with how he flip-flopped on the Inola aluminum smelter project, which is a massive corporate welfare boondoggle. How a candidate campaigns can indicate how they'll govern.

At this point, I feel confident that Gentner Drummond (the worst gubernatorial candidate) has lost out on his chance to win, and could even miss a runoff. Because of what I said about concerns with Mazzei earlier, I am leaning Merrick at this point.

Lieutenant Governor: Justin 'JJ' Humphrey. While T.W. Shannon is a very likeable guy, has the Trump endorsement, and was probably our most conservative House Speaker to date, Humphrey is very outspoken about using the office to influence the Legislature toward conservative action, which is an oft-neglected aspect of this office. The Lieutenant Governor is constitutionally the President of the State Senate, but few have ever exercised much use of that role.

Attorney General: Jeff Starling or no-vote. Jon Echols voted for over $3.6 billion in tax increases and to make it far easier for the Legislature to raise your taxes; that earns a 'no' from me for any future office.

Labor Commissioner: Kevin West. State Rep. Kevin West has been a consistent conservative in the State House, and the moderate Republican candidate – State Rep. John Pfeiffer – voted for $3.7 billion in tax increases and to make it far easier for the Legislature to raise your taxes. There is no contest between the two candidates when it comes to a conservative fiscal record: West is best.

Insurance Commissioner: Marty Quinn. Marty is a great guy, and has the best private and public sector experience to do this job well. He's been endorsed by Congressman Josh Brecheen.

State Treasurer: At this point, I lean toward re-electing Todd Russ. I have friends who are supporting term-limited State Auditor Cindy Byrd, who switched to this race last-minute after campaigning for Lieutenant Governor, and while I appreciate Byrd's stellar performance as State Auditor, I have not (yet) been convinced that Russ needs ousting.

State Superintendent: John Cox. This is not a race I'm particularly enthused about, and it's a crowded field of candidates in which nobody really stands out. Some people I respect are supporting State Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, while others are getting behind small-town superintendent John Cox. I would definitely not support Franklin (who is the clear liberal in the primary).

Corporation Commissioner: I'm inclined to support Justin Hornback here, as something of an "average Joe", energy industry worker, and outsider perspective versus the typical background of Corporation commissioners (i.e. politicians elected straight from another office, and with deep campaign contribution connections to the big industry players).

State Question 832: vote NO. Read my post SQ 832: a competition-crushing, AI-adopting dream for Big Business.

FEDERAL RACES:

1st Congressional District: There are two candidates here that I absolutely would not support: Jackson Lahmeyer (who has prostituted his church and faith for political power and internet cred), or Kim David (the tax-hiking moderate who killed an abortion ban bill with a literal movie-villain smirk on her face).

Lahmeyer's abuse of biblical ecclesiology, including the actual sale of church membership and rights (literal simony) for nothing more than media notoriety and votes, is offensive and disqualifying in and of itself to me, much less the close association Lahmeyer has with some of the worst grifters and cranks in today's Republican politics. I would not trust Lahmeyer anywhere near elected office.

Kim David has an abysmal liberal record on tax and fiscal policy (bodes well for being in DC, right?). Additionally, and more damning, is that when push came to shove, when it actually mattered, when Oklahoma could have taken the lead in ending abortion in our state and protecting the preborn... instead, with an actual movie-villain smirk, Kim David KILLED the bill that would have abolished abortion in Oklahoma in 2020. I would never vote for Kim David.

I know very little of the other candidates, to be completely honest. My blogging and research time has been limited in recent weeks, and as this is not my district, I have seen very little from the candidates. I have only met one of them in the past, Jed Cochran; folks I know and trust seem to be supporting either Cochran or State Rep. Mark Tedford (though Tedford has a sub-par, moderate voting record in the House).

U.S. Senate (special election): Kevin Hern. 

2nd Congressional District: Josh Brecheen. Far and away the best member of Oklahoma's congressional delegation since the late great Dr. Tom Coburn.

3rd Congressional District: Wade Burleson. Frank Lucas is a nice man, but he's pretty moderate as far as congressional Republicans go. Burleson would be a more conservative congressman.

4th Congressional District: Marcie Everhart. Tom Cole needs to be ousted, and Everhart is a big Coburn fan (which makes me a fan, haha!). Easy choice there.

OTHER RACES:

State Senate District 4: Kenny Smith. Running against a mushy moderate incumbent.
State Senate District 10: Jaden Terrazas. He would be a conservative addition to the State Senate. His opponent, incumbent Bill Coleman, went on a viral tirade against conservatives at a recent forum.
State Senate District 12: Craig Stump. A conservative, running against a mushy moderate incumbent.
State Senate District 20: Mark LeMarr. A conservative, running against a mushy moderate incumbent.
State Senate District 26: Brady Butler. He would be a great conservative voice in the State Senate. Running against a mushy moderate incumbent.
State Senate District 32: Dusty Deevers. A phenomenal conservative who should be reelected.
State Senate District 34: Dana Prieto. A conservative who should be reelected.
State Senate District 42: Mark LeMarr. A conservative, running against a mushy moderate incumbent.

State House District 3: Rick West. Very solid conservative, needs to be re-elected.
State House District 8: Tom Gann. Probably the most conservative member of the House, needs to be re-elected. Insightful legislator who really studies the issues.
State House District 10: Jake Bair. A conservative, running against a mushy moderate incumbent.
State House District 11: Wendi Stearman. She was a solid conservative member of the State House before she lost a reelection bid. Needs to be returned for continued excellence in office.
State House District 14: Roy Timmons. A conservative, running against a lobbyist-owned incumbent.
State House District 32: Jim Shaw. One of the most conservative and impactful freshmen representatives in recent history, needs to be re-elected.
State House District 33: Molly Jenkins. Another conservative who should be re-elected.
State House District 36: Jenni White. She would be a great addition for conservatives in the State House.
State House District 69: Angela Strohm. She would be a great addition for conservatives in the State House. Her husband was part of the Platform Caucus (a predecessor to today's OK Freedom Caucus) when he was in the House.
State House District 98: Gabe Woolley. Another conservative who should be re-elected.

Muskogee County Commissioner, District 1: Ken Doke. He has done a fantastic job and deserves re-election.

Tulsa County District Attorney (District 14): Steve Kunzweiler. His challenger, Colleen McCarty, is a deceptive wolf-in-sheep's-clothing. See BatesLine for more details.

OTHER RESOURCES:

• Michael Bates' picks at BatesLine.com (WILL UPDATE WHEN POSTED -- highly recommend)
• iVoterGuide (a great resource)
• Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association (OK2A) endorsements
• Make Oklahoma Health Again (formerly Oklahomans for Health & Parental Rights) endorsements
• Tulsa Beacon endorsements
• National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsements