Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Oklahoma Elections

Local elections matter. Even though we are all fatigued from Oklahoma’s 2022 election cycle, the state’s 2023 election calendar is under way and bears watching.

Remember these important Oklahoma State Election Board links to:

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2023 Election Coverage

new Thunder arena

After 36 public comments, OKC Council sets Dec. 12 election for new Thunder arena

The OKC City Council set a Dec. 12 election date for a proposed new taxpayer-funded arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder, approved a letter...
SD 32 Republican Primary

Cheat sheet: Four compete in SD 32 Republican primary

When John Michael Montgomery resigned his Senate seat to lead the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce in early July, it set off a scramble...
SD 32 Democratic primary

Cheat sheet: Larry Bush, Johnny Jernigan face off in SD 32 Democratic primary

Two Democrats are seeking their party's nomination in the special primary election to succeed former GOP Sen. John Michael Montgomery in Senate District 32. Former...
House District 39 special election

Slew of candidates file for House District 39 special election

After former state Rep. Ryan Martinez resigned from his House District 39 post on Sept. 1, numerous first-time candidates have officially filed for the...
Chief David Hill reelected

Muscogee voters reelect Hill and Beaver, send council incumbents to runoffs

Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill and Second Chief Del Beaver have been reelected to second terms, with Hill receiving majority support over three...

Cheat sheet: Former reps seek return to Muscogee National Council

Alongside the races for principal chief and second chief, eight candidates are seeking three seats on the Muscogee (Creek) National Council in the primary...

Election extending sales tax proposed to cover bulk of $900 million new OKC Thunder arena

Oklahoma City voters will be asked in December to authorize a sales tax extension to pay a massive portion of a $900 million arena...
Dusk Monetathchi

Dusk Monetathchi ousts Steven Woods from Chickasaw Nation Tribal Legislature

The only race that drew a challenger for the Chickasaw Nation's 2023 electoral cycle culminated Tuesday with political newcomer Dusk Monetathchi ousting 20-year incumbent...
new Thunder arenavideo

In State of the City address, Holt says OKC residents will vote on new Thunder arena this year

During his annual State of the City address today, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said there should be an election later this year to...
John Michael Montgomery

Sen. John Michael Montgomery resignation will trigger SD 32 special election

Oklahoma State Sen. John Michael Montgomery (R-Lawton) is resigning his seat to become the president of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce, he announced Friday. Montgomery's...
Comanche Nation runoff election

In close runoff, Comanche Nation citizens unseat two incumbents

Comanche Nation citizens elected a new tribal attorney and a new Business Committee representative in a runoff election Saturday that saw some of the...
Gov. Bill Anoatubby reelected

Drawing no opponent, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby reelected to 10th term

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby and his son, Lt. Gov. Chris Anoatubby, were reelected by default for additional four-year terms after candidate filings for...
Comanche Nation runoff

Comanche Nation runoff incumbents, challengers seek ‘major changes’

(Update: To review results from the 2023 Comanche Nation runoff election, click here.) It's challengers versus incumbents in the Comanche Nation runoff election set for...
Chuck Hoskin Jr. reelected

Chuck Hoskin Jr., Bryan Warner reelected as Cherokee Nation principal chief, deputy chief

Incumbent Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and incumbent Deputy Chief Bryan Warner fought off three challengers each and have been reelected for...
Cherokee Nation deputy chief election

Four running to be Cherokee Nation deputy chief

As Cherokee Nation citizens consider their principal chief options on Saturday, June 3, they will also cast separate votes for the deputy chief position....
Cherokee Nation principal chief election

Three challenge Hoskin Jr. in race for Cherokee Nation principal chief

The Cherokee Nation's general election is set for Saturday, June 3, and the race for principal chief has featured lawsuits, disagreements over health care...

2022 Election Coverage

voter fatigue

With more elections around the corner, voter fatigue complicates 2023

On Nov. 15, exactly one week after the 2022 midterm elections, Oklahoma City Ward 2 Councilman James Cooper kicked off his 2023 reelection bid...
straight party voting

Straight party voting throws quite a rager in Oklahoma

Straight party voting is a feature of Oklahoma's electoral process that many people would like to see eliminated — many people who are not...
$1 billion bond package

Nearly $1 billion: OKCPS passes largest bond package in district history

On Tuesday, Oklahoma City Public Schools voters approved a nearly $1 billion bond package, a victory that district Superintendent Sean McDaniel said will be...
Ryan Walters

‘Won’t go woke’: Ryan Walters elected state superintendent in win for Stitt

After an unusually dramatic election cycle for a typically-down-ballot race, Republican candidate and Secretary of Education Ryan Walters will be Oklahoma's next State Superintendent...
Vicki Behenna elected

Vicki Behenna beats Kevin Calvey in hotly contested Oklahoma County DA race

Democrat Vicki Behenna defeated Republican Kevin Calvey in a hotly contested race for Oklahoma County district attorney Tuesday. Throughout her campaign, Behenna touted her credentials...
Kevin Stitt reelected

Encore: Kevin Stitt reelected governor of Oklahoma

Despite facing an opponent supported by tens of millions of dollars in dark-money political advertisements, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt decisively won a second term...
OK County

Myles Davidson wins OK County District 3, Carrie Blumert reelected in District 1

Republican Myles Davidson defeated Democrat Cathy Cummings in Tuesday's general election for the open Oklahoma County Commission District 3 seat. With about 93 percent of...
Republicans sweep Oklahoma

Republicans sweep Oklahoma’s federal races

Republicans will hold onto both of Oklahoma's U.S. Senate seats and all five congressional districts after an election in which all seven offices were...
Edmond ballot question

Understanding the convoluted Edmond ballot question

(Update: On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Edmond voters disapproved the ballot question, with 25,987 casting "No" and 11,458 casting "Yes" votes. The property in question...
I voted stickers

An ‘I voted’ sticker is the prize for enduring all these ads

So the big day — Election Day — is almost here. The suffering caused by the slog of constant political attack ads while trying to...
Markwayne Mullin and Kendra Horn

Markwayne Mullin and Kendra Horn compete to replace Inhofe in U.S. Senate race

Oklahomans are in the unusual position of deciding two U.S. Senate races this year owing to Sen. Jim Inhofe’s resignation after almost three decades...
Joy Hofmeister

Joy Hofmeister hammers voucher threat in rural Oklahoma

(Editor's note: This article chronicles recent campaign stops by Joy Hofmeister. A separate article from the same author chronicles recent campaign stops by Kevin...
Kevin Stitt

In rural Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt calls dark money attacks ‘unbelievable’

(Editor's note: This article chronicles recent campaign stops by Kevin Stitt. A separate article from the same author chronicles recent campaign stops by Joy...
Corporation Commission seat

Corporation Commission candidates disagree on utility securitization

University of Tulsa law professor and water and energy resources expert Warigia Bowman, Sen. Kim David (R-Porter) and independent Don Underwood are on the...
Oklahoma judicial races

Cheat sheet: Overviews of key Oklahoma judicial races

Voters will decide several key Oklahoma judicial races on Nov. 8, including whether to retain four of nine justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court...
OKCPS bond

Pitched as ‘transformational,’ a $955 million OKCPS bond proposal faces opposition

On Nov. 8, voters within Oklahoma City Public Schools boundaries will determine the fate of a nearly $1 billion bond proposal, which would be...

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