Primary Runoff Election Results

The primary runoff election was August 25 with several races on the ballot.  In the hotly contested Republican runoff for governor former state Senator Mike Mazzei of Tulsa narrowly defeated Attorney General Gentner Drummond by 2,047 votes (50.27%-49.73%) and will now face Democrat Cyndi Munson and Independents Billy Wagner, Robert Brooks and Orlando Bush in the November 3 general election. 
Other statewide GOP races on the ballot saw outgoing state Rep. Kevin West handily defeat outgoing state Rep. John Pfeiffer (58.28%-41.72%) in the race for Labor Commissioner.  West will face Democrat Kevin Dawson and Libertarian Mike Hall in the general election.  BIGiOK member, Bob Sullivan handily defeated former state Rep and Senator Marty Quinn (55.13%-44.87%) in the race for Insurance Commissioner and will face Democrat Craig MacIntyre in the general election. In the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Robert Franklin handily defeated James Taylor (54.63%-45.37%) and will face Democrat Jeanettie Marshall in the general election    In the Democratic runoff for the U.S. Senate N’Kiyla Jasmine-Thomas handily defeated Jim Priest (61.19%-38.81%) and will face GOP nominee Kevin Hern, Independents Curtis Stinnett and Ron Meinhardt and Libertarian Sevier White in the general election. BIGiOK member, Republican Mark Tedford will be running in the U.S. House District 1 against Democrat John Croisant.  It’s quite exciting to have BIGiOK members active in our state/federal races.
In state legislative races, three GOP incumbents faced runoffs with Senators Jack Stewart (SD 18) and Dana Prieto (SD 34) losing to Tyler Herring and Aaron Forst respectively. State Rep. David Smith (HD 18) narrowly won his runoff against Pamela Gordon.    
The two state questions regarding county tax credit reimbursement and voter identification (SQ 844 and SQ 846) saw SQ 844 soundly defeated while SQ 846 was approved by a comfortable margin.  
 

Governor Orders Constitutional Convention

Governor Kevin Stitt has taken action to comply with the Oklahoma Constitution and send to a vote of the people the question of whether the legislature shall call a constitutional convention, as required by Article XXIV, Section 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution.  Article XXIV, Section 2 requires that the people of Oklahoma be given the opportunity at least once every twenty years to decide whether or not to move forward with a constitutional convention. The question was last presented to Oklahomans in 1970.  
“The Oklahoma Constitution is clear. At least every 20 years, Oklahomans have the right to decide whether it’s time to call a constitutional convention,” said Governor Stitt. “It’s been 56 years since the question was sent to the people. This action puts the question to the people and ensures Oklahomans finally get the opportunity their Constitution guarantees.” 
The Executive Proclamation sets a special election for April 6, 2027 and was accompanied by Executive Order 2026-30, which instructs the Secretary of State to take any action necessary to submit the question to the people and creates the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention Commission.  The Commission is tasked with studying the Oklahoma Constitution and other state constitutional conventions, then making recommendations about the procedures and rules that would govern a state constitutional convention, should the state question be approved. The Commission will also consider necessary safeguards and proposed legislation needed to implement a convention. The report will be due no later than December 31, 2026.  
“Oklahomans have the right to review our Constitution and determine whether it’s time to consider changes,” continued Stitt. “It is time to honor that right and give Oklahomans the choice our state founding fathers guaranteed to them.”
 

House Pro Tempore Gains NCSL Leadership Post

Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore (HD 57) has been selected to serve on the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Executive Committee.
The bipartisan committee serves as NCSL’s governing board, representing legislatures from all 50 states as well as U.S. commonwealths and territories. The organization supports more than 7,300 state lawmakers and 30,000 legislative staff nationwide.
Moore, R-Clinton, said the position will allow him to bring Oklahoma’s perspective to national discussions while learning from policymakers in other states.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to serve at this national level and to bring Oklahoma’s perspective and voice to this national conversation,” Moore said. “Our state is making great strides in many areas, and I’ll be able to share our trajectory. I also will draw on the experience of those from other states and learn what has worked well and what remains challenging on many different policy fronts.”
Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert praised Moore’s selection, pointing to his work on education, constitutional issues, property rights and economic policy. Hilbert said Moore’s appointment also gives Oklahoma a voice in discussions involving state legislatures across the country. Terms on the NCSL Executive Committee are one year and may be renewed for up to three years. Moore’s first term began during the organization’s legislative summit in Chicago in late July and runs through next year’s summit in Atlanta.

President Nominates Federal Judges

President Donald Trump has announced a slate of nominations to the federal judiciary, including a pair in Oklahoma where the state’s three districts have seen increased workloads under the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma.
Former Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals Judge Trevor Pemberton is set to be nominated for a vacant district judgeship in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, while longtime Attorney General’s Office attorney Zach West is set to be nominated for a seat in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
West currently serves as director of special litigation under Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond after serving as a deputy solicitor general under prior administrations. West has maintained a relatively low-profile during his state legal career, while Pemberton has served as a state district court and appellate court judge, has worked as Gov. Kevin Stitt’s general counsel and has represented two district attorneys sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecuting tribal citizens for crimes committed within Indian Country.
The appointments fill the two vacancies in Oklahoma’s federal judiciary. Excluding senior judges, Trump will have appointed both of the Eastern District of Oklahoma’s judges and half of the Northern District’s four judges, while President Joe Biden appointed the other half of the Northern District’s judges. With six of the seven judges in the Western District of Oklahoma also appointed by Trump, more than 75% of Oklahoma’s federal bench will be Trump appointees.
Judicial appointments are lifetime appointments, however federal judges do not typically die in office and instead typically enter pseudo-retirement through senior status, which allows them to keep a small caseload while stepping back and allowing a replacement to be appointed. Oklahoma has seven active senior judges, and another five who are inactive without a docket.

RUSO Names CEO

The Regional University System of Oklahoma (RUSO) Board of Regents has selected Kent Lashley as its new chief executive officer. He will begin his duties September 1.
Lashley currently serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer at Rose State College, where he oversees a $38 million operating budget and approximately 350 full-time employees. He has worked in senior leadership roles at Rose State since 2009.
“Kent brings a depth of higher education experience, sound judgment and a clear commitment to public service,” RUSO Board Chair Lake Carpenter said. “He understands the opportunities and challenges facing our regional universities.”
As CEO, Lashley will oversee RUSO’s day-to-day work and serve as the primary link between the Board of Regents and leaders of the system’s six universities.
RUSO governs East Central University, Northeastern State University, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma. The six universities serve more than 40,000 students statewide.

CRS Names Zearley Executive Director

The Oklahoma Commission for Rehabilitation Services has named Sterling Zearley executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services. Zearley had served as interim director since June 22.
Zearley has decades of experience in state government and public service, including more than 25 years at the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and 16 years as executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.
“Over the past few weeks, I have seen up close the tremendous work we do at DRS,” Zearley said. “I am grateful to the Commission for their faith and trust in me, and I look forward to leading the agency in a bold new direction.”
Zearley holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Arkansas, a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern State University and an Associate of Science degree from Eastern Oklahoma College. The Department of Rehabilitation Services served more than 84,000 Oklahomans with disabilities last year through career preparation, employment, education, independent living programs and disability benefit eligibility services.

July GR Collections Fall Short of Estimate

Oklahoma’s General Revenue Fund collected $515.7 million in July, falling $7.8 million, or 1.5%, below the official estimate for the first month of fiscal year 2027. The fiscal year began July 1, making this the first monthly revenue report and providing too little data to establish a broader trend. 
Collections were $92.8 million, or 15.3%, below July 2025. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services said the year-over-year comparison was affected by several timing and revenue distribution changes, including the absence of corporate income tax and oil gross production tax revenue from the fund during July.  A change enacted through Senate Bill 684 also moved the full Parental Choice Tax Credit payment to August instead of dividing it into two installments during the fiscal year, affecting the amount of personal income tax revenue available for the General Revenue Fund.
“July collections reflect known factors at the start of the fiscal year, not a broader revenue concern,” OMES Director Mark Wood said. Sales tax collections totaled $202.3 million, 1.1% below the estimate but 3.5% higher than a year ago. Use tax collections reached $58.8 million, exceeding the estimate by 26.5% and increasing nearly 39% from July 2025. Gross production tax collections from natural gas totaled $24.7 million, 28.4% below the estimate. The General Revenue Fund is the primary source of money for Oklahoma’s annually appropriated state budget.
The OMES report primarily reflects the funded status of the state budget, as opposed to the monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report issued by the state treasurer’s office that indicates changing economic conditions.
 

State Unemployment Rate Takes Unusual Turn

Oklahoma’s unemployment rate climbed above the national rate in July, an unusual turn for a state that typically records a lower jobless rate than the country as a whole.
Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, while the U.S. rate slipped to 4.1%, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. The state rate is now a full percentage point higher than it was a year ago.
The difference between Oklahoma and the nation is only two-tenths of a percentage point. But the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City noted earlier this year that Oklahoma’s unemployment rate typically runs one-half to 1 percentage point below the national rate.
Oklahoma has moved above the national rate before. Contemporary federal reports showed the state running higher than the nation in late 2016. Historical comparisons can be tricky because the Bureau of Labor Statistics revises state unemployment estimates annually, meaning figures in today’s historical series do not always match those reported at the time.
The latest report did not identify a reason for the increase. Over the past year, Oklahoma’s labor force — people working or looking for work — has shrunk. The number counted as employed has fallen, while the number unemployed has risen.
 

Bond Oversight Council Conditionally Approves ACCESS Oklahoma Program

The Oklahoma Council of Bond Oversight has conditionally approved the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s request to issue bonds to help finance the next phase of the ACCESS Oklahoma program. The council approved the request subject to 12 conditions that must be met by the Turnpike Authority and its financing team.
The application allows the Turnpike Authority to issue up to $1.9 billion in revenue bonds for ACCESS Oklahoma projects and up to $1 billion in refunding bonds, which would be issued only if market conditions allow the authority to reduce debt service costs.
Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ said the council’s action did not approve funding for any specific turnpike project. Instead, he said the council’s role was limited to determining whether the bond issue met state financial and statutory requirements.
The approval also requires the Turnpike Authority to comply with any federal court orders related to the proposed East-West Connector, also known as the Toby Keith Expressway. If bond proceeds cannot be used for that project, the authority must redirect the money to other eligible ACCESS Oklahoma projects.
OU President Endorses Area Turnpike Projects
At last Tuesday’s meeting of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz called the proposed turnpike in Norman “absolutely essential”.
OTA has proposed new exits at Alameda Drive and Tecumseh Road for the South Extension Turnpike, which would connect Interstate 40 to Interstate 35. The exits are part of ACCESS Oklahoma, an $8.2 billion, 15-year statewide turnpike improvement program. Harroz said the two exits would bring visitors to Norman and reduce travel time.
“These two interchanges are absolutely not just desired, not just requested, but absolutely necessary for that economic prosperity,” Harroz said. Harroz said the two exits would be located near campus, which is on track to reach 40,000 students next fall.
“All you have to do is drive down whenever traffic is against you, heading from Oklahoma City south down I-35, to understand the reality of today,” Harroz said. “We think it is absolutely essential.” Harroz said major campus events, such as OU football home games, can draw 100,000 people in a single day. He said the university is growing faster than it has since the mid-1970s.
The planned billion-dollar Rock Creek Entertainment District is part of the broader city growth referenced by leaders and advocates. In June, Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development sued to stop the $1.1 billion Rock Creek Entertainment District from moving forward, though the district broke ground in May.
Harroz said the planned entertainment district is another reason turnpike exits are necessary for Norman’s growth.
“We have millions of visitors,” Harroz said. “Everything from the National Weather Center, the Museum of Natural History, the arts, and obviously all of the athletics. And now a $1.2 billion entertainment district that will be impacted by this.”

Governor Stitt Concludes NGA Chairmanship

Governor Kevin Stitt has concluded his year as chair of the National Governors Association and will continue serving in the organization’s leadership after being elected to its executive committee for the 2026-27 term. The announcement came last Saturday during the final day of the NGA Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City. Maryland Governor Wes Moore succeeded Stitt as the organization’s chair, while Indiana Governor Mike Braun was elected vice chair and chair-elect.
Stitt is one of seven governors elected to the executive committee, joining Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Vermont Governor Phil Scott. The committee oversees the bipartisan organization’s operations and has primary responsibility for policy issues involving federalism and the role of states in national policy discussions. As outgoing chair, Stitt participated in a panel discussion during the meeting with Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon reflecting on public service and their experiences as governors. Earlier in the day, Stitt joined Moore and Cox for a tour of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association is the bipartisan organization representing the governors of the nation’s 55 states and territories.
 

Governor Names Secretary of Education

Governor Stitt has named Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields as his Secretary of Education. It is expected Fields will serve in the cabinet level position until Stitt terms out of office in January.  Fields was appointed to his role as superintendent by Stitt upon the mid-term resignation of former Superintendent Ryan Walters.  Upon his appointment, Fields publicly stated he would not stand for election to the seat.  A new superintendent will be elected during the November 3 general election. 
 

General Revenue Fund Collections Exceed Previous Year

Oklahoma’s General Revenue Fund collections exceeded both official estimates and the previous year’s total during fiscal year 2026, according to new figures released by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
The state collected $8.9 billion in General Revenue Fund revenue during FY 2026, which ended June 30. That total was $612.1 million, or 7.4%, above the annual estimate and $142.4 million, or 1.6%, higher than collections in fiscal year 2025. June collections also finished ahead of expectations. The state received $991.3 million during the month, $153.8 million, or 18.4%, above the monthly estimate and $44.8 million, or 4.7%, more than June 2025.
OMES Director Mark Wood said the results reflect Oklahoma’s continued economic strength and responsible fiscal management. “The State of Oklahoma ended FY 2026 in a strong financial position, with General Revenue Fund collections finishing ahead of both estimates and last year’s level,” Wood said. “Exceeding prior-year collections for the second consecutive year and surpassing the full-year estimate for the sixth consecutive year reflects the strength of Oklahoma’s economy and the disciplined fiscal management that continues to guide our state.”

Condolences 

Condolences to the family of longtime Oklahoma government relations professional and lobbyist Lisette Barnes who passed away recently at age 63. Barnes was born in Woodward and graduated from El Reno High School and the University of Central Oklahoma. She began her state Capitol career in 1985 in the office of former Speaker of the House Jim Barker. At the time of her passing she was a contract lobbyist representing local, state, national and international clients.