Candidate filing concludes - with some surprises

Candidate filing for 2026 statewide, legislative, and judicial offices concluded yesterday, and boy were there some surprises.

First up, the official press release from the Oklahoma State Election Board, then a quick recap on the filing news:

Statement from Paul Ziriax, Secretary of the State Election Board RE: 2026 Candidate Filing 

Oklahoma City, April 3rd — The 2026 Candidate Filing Period closed today – April 3, 2026 – at 5:00 p.m. The Secretary of the State Election Board announced that a total of 611 candidates filed for state, federal, legislative, or judicial office, making the 2026 Candidate Filing Period the second largest candidate filing period in the past 25 years. The largest occurred in 2018 when a total of 794 candidates filed for office.

Muskogee voters pick Lowe for mayor, send two council seats to runoff

Voters in Muskogee charted a new course yesterday, with the election perhaps the most "outsider" mayor since John Tyler Hammons in 2008. 

Don't think your vote matters? Ryan Lowe defeated former city councilor James Gulley in the mayoral race by a mere 11 votes out of 3,823 cast: he won with 1,917 votes (50.14%) to Gulley's 1,906 votes (49.86%). 

Marty Quinn announces campaign for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner

Great news! I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have in this position. Incumbent Republican Glen Mulready is term-limited, so this will be an open seat:

Marty Quinn Announces Campaign for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner

Conservative Businessman and Former State Senator Brings Decades of Industry Experience to the Race

CLAREMORE, OK (July 15th) — Marty Quinn, a small business owner, insurance professional, and longtime conservative leader, today announced his candidacy for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner.

With over 40 years of experience as an agency owner and manager— Quinn brings unmatched expertise and a deep commitment to public service. A former Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee and respected voice in the Oklahoma Legislature, Quinn is running to restore transparency, protect consumers, and ensure the Insurance Department works for the people — not the bureaucracy.

Small: No need to “California” Oklahoma elections

No need to “California” Oklahoma elections

By Jonathan Small

This week, the group Oklahoma United called for abolishing our state’s primary election system and replacing it with a “jungle primary” in which the top two candidates proceed to the November general election ballot regardless of party.

Oklahoma United’s proposal is substantially based on California law. So, if you think California politics represent the ideal, this plan is for you. But for most Oklahomans, that alone is a giant red flag.

State Election Board offers tips, reminders for Oklahoma Voters

State Election Board Offers Tips, Reminders for Oklahoma Voters

(Oklahoma City, November 1st) – Voters head to the polls Tuesday for the General Election. The State Election Board offers these tips and reminders to Oklahoma voters ahead of the November 5 General Election.

Sen. Deevers on why voters should reject State Question 833

The following is a column by State Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin) about the dangers of State Question 833. I concur:

Rejecting Oklahoma SQ 833 – The Case Against Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs)
Originally posted at OKGrassroots

State Question 833 (SQ 833) introduces Public Infrastructure Districts (PIDs), giving developers significant control over infrastructure financing at taxpayers’ expense. Here’s why voters should say “No” to SQ 833.

Oklahoma: Early voting for the General Election begins today

Early Voting for the General Election Begins Wednesday

(Oklahoma City, Oct. 28th) – “Early voting” – officially known as in-person absentee voting – begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday for the November 5 General Election.

Early voting will be held Wednesday, October 30 through Friday, November 1 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, November 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. No excuse is needed to vote early, but voters must provide proof of identity when checking in at their early voting site. More information about accepted forms of identity is available on the State Election Board website.

Here's what you need to know about the State Questions on Oklahoma's 2024 ballot

Two weeks ago, I published Here's what you need to know about the judges on the 2024 ballot. In this post, I'll focus in on the two state questions that are on the ballot. 

I got some of my information from these helpful articles (SQ 833, SQ 834) at Ballotpedia, in addition to information from various blogs and news stations.

Small: OKC news station fails the fact test on judicial retention story

Failing the fact test

By Jonathan Small

In policy debates, facts matter even if everyone is entitled to his own opinions about those facts.

Unfortunately, when it comes to understanding the history of Oklahoma’s judiciary and ongoing debates about reform, some individuals cannot get basic facts straight.

With three members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court facing retention elections this year, an Oklahoma City TV news station recently aired a lengthy related story.

That story, as originally aired, was notable for containing demonstrably false and undeniably incorrect information.

AFP-OK testifies against non-November School Board elections

AFP-OK Testifies Against Non-November School Board Elections

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (October 3rd) - In case you missed it, Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) Deputy Director Bradley Ward, Ph.D., testified during a state House of Representatives interim study on Tuesday to advocate for moving Oklahoma's school board elections to align with state and federal elections. 

Ward argued that Oklahoma's laws requiring standalone school board elections earlier in the year is a waste of money - nearly $17 million - that could instead fund education. 

After ballot irregularities, Lawton-area legislators call for investigative audit of sheriff runoff election

Lawton Lawmakers Call for Investigative Audit into Comanche County Sheriff Runoff Election

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reps. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton, Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, today sent an urgent letter to Secretary Paul Ziriax formally requesting an investigative audit into the August 27 runoff election for Comanche County sheriff.

The legislators expressed serious concerns following reports that multiple ineligible voters received a ballot for the Republican runoff election for Comanche County sheriff. The legislators said this clear breach of electoral protocol occurred despite at least one voter contacting the Comanche County Election Board regarding the incorrect ballot, with the issue not realized until after the ballot had been cast.

Every vote counts: HD20 runoff decided by TWO votes

Don't let people tell you your vote doesn't matter. Here are the unofficial results from yesterday's runoff election in Oklahoma House District 20:

Conservatives rack up wins in Oklahoma GOP primary and runoff

After some remarkable victories in the June primary, Oklahoma conservatives continued the winning streak with additional successes in today's runoff election across the state. This primary-runoff cycle has been, without a doubt, the best election for conservatives in at least a decade.

Election Board: post-election audits confirm 100% accuracy of June elections

Post-Election Audits Confirm Accuracy of June Elections

(August 26th) On Monday, State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax announced that post-election audits conducted following Oklahoma's June Primary Elections confirmed the accuracy of the state's voting system with a 100% match of the certified election results.

Muskogee City Council backtracks, postpones $78M bond issue, sales tax renewal

Back in May, the Muskogee City Council voted to set an August 27th election for a $78.6M general obligation bond and sales tax proposal. It had a rushed feeling to it, and there's been quite a bit of local controversy over it. Earlier this week, the council held a special meeting and voted to postpone to vote for further community input.

Good.

City Council Votes to Postpone GO Bond Election

MUSKOGEE, OKLA., July 15, 2024 - In a Special Call City Council meeting held on Monday, July 15, the Muskogee City Council voted to postpone the upcoming General Obligation Bond Election.

“Almost everyone I’ve talked to is in favor of investing in Muskogee and likes the projects put forward, but I feel like we could use a few more months to consider the issues,” said Mayor Patrick Cale. 

Small: Conservatives gain in legislative races

Though I have some minor quibbles with Small regarding school choice (primarily as it relates to protecting homeschool freedoms from future government intrusion), but I agree with him that the recent Republican primary results were great news for conservatives. In fact, it may well have been the best election for Oklahoma conservatives in the past decade.

Conservatives gain in legislative races

By Jonathan Small

Last month’s primary elections resulted in the Oklahoma Legislature likely being more conservative next year. That’s good news for voters who care about issues such as judicial reform, taxes and education.

This year’s legislative session ended without reform to Oklahoma’s secretive and liberal process for nominating judges in Oklahoma and without personal income tax reductions.

But many candidates who prevailed or advanced to runoffs in Republican primaries advocated for conservative reforms to change the secretive process for how Oklahoma nominates judges and for cutting or eliminating the personal income tax. Also, voter support for school choice has become undeniable.

2024 Primary Election: recommendations from BatesLine

Conservative Tulsa blogger Michael Bates of BatesLine.com has published his traditional election day voting card, with recommendations, links, and information about the elections on the June 18th primary ballot across the state. Somehow, this primary has snuck up on me, and I'm woefully behind on my own election postings.

Filled with great insights and well-documented research, Michael's excellent analysis and opinion is always a must-read.

Muskogee City Council sets August vote on $78M bond issue, sales tax renewal

County Assessor Ron Dean during public comment at the Muskogee City Council meeting Monday

Brace for impact, Muskogee: our city council has set an election for a bond and sales tax proposal totaling over $78,000,000 on August 27th.

I dropped in for my first city council meeting in years yesterday when I heard that a special meeting had been called to vote on sending the mega-million dollar package to the ballot. You can view the agenda here; scroll down to items 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Small: No need to "fix" Oklahoma elections with "ranked choice" voting

No need to “fix” Oklahoma elections

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma has one of the nation’s best election systems. We use paper ballots that allow hand recounts, our ballot machines are not Internet connected, and results are completely tallied on Election Day.

Yet some people want to get rid of that system and replace it with one notorious for voter errors, lengthy delays in counting, and growing public distrust of results – “ranked choice” voting.

In a ranked-choice voting system, voters designate their first choice in a race, their second choice, and so on down the ballot. If no candidate receives majority support, the second-choice votes of the candidate who finishes last are reallocated to the remaining candidates. If no candidate clears 50 percent of the vote at that time, the process repeats again and again until one candidate has received a majority.

This idea has been tried elsewhere and the results speak for themselves. The system is a disaster.

Conservative Jonathan Hewitt launches candidacy for State House District 101

It's been a while since a conservative held the House District 101 seat; Jonathan Hewitt aims to change that, and is challenging incumbent Robert Manger in the GOP primary. No one else filed, so this is a winner-take-all head-to-head race:

Jonathan Hewitt Launches Candidacy for Oklahoma State Representative, District 101 

Choctaw, OK — 04/03/2024 — Today, Jonathan Hewitt proudly announces that he has filed for the position of Oklahoma State Representative for House District 101 with the Oklahoma State Election Board. Jonathan has a deep-rooted commitment to community service and an unwavering dedication to Oklahoman values, he steps forward to be a representative who will serve with integrity and transparency for his constituents.