MuskogeePolitico.com

Tonight: Muskogee's Symphony in the Park

2026-06-09T08:44:37.893-05:00

This evening is one of my favorite community events of the year in Muskogee, the 36th annual Symphony in the Park. Featuring the excellent musicians of the Muskogee Community Band, a fireworks finale to Stars and Stripes Forever, concessions, and an art auction, this family-friendly event at Honor Heights Park is well worth attending. They have a special patriotic program planned for America's 250th birthday, and you won't want to miss it!

The weather last weekend forced a postponement, but things look great for this evening.

My Picks for the 2026 Oklahoma GOP Primary

2026-06-06T16:14:11.286-05:00

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:

New post-Trump endorsement poll: Mazzei on top of Gov race, Merrick into 3rd

2026-06-05T08:00:45.330-05:00

The first publicly-released opinion poll since President Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Mike Mazzei finds the former state senator (unsurprisingly) taking the lead, with Attorney General Gentner Drummond falling into second, and perhaps more surprisingly, former state senator Jake Merrick jumping into third over significantly more well-funded candidates, albeit a somewhat distant third. The same poll finds U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern with a massive lead in the race for U.S. Senate.

Here are the results from JMC Analytics:

Cong. Brecheen endorses Marty Quinn for Insurance Commissioner

2026-06-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

Oklahoma's best, most conservative member of Congress endorses Marty Quinn for Insurance Commissioner. I concur. Marty Quinn is a great guy, and has the best private and public sector experience to do this job well.

Congressman Josh Brecheen:

“I am proud to endorse Marty Quinn for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner. I had the privilege of serving alongside Marty in the Oklahoma Legislature for eight years, where he consistently proved himself to be a principled conservative, a man of integrity, and someone who always kept his word. Marty never wavered in his commitment to doing what was right, even when it wasn’t the easiest path.

Small: Thomas’ warning should be heeded

2026-06-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

Thomas’ warning should be heeded

By Jonathan Small

In April 15 remarks at the University of Texas at Austin, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas warned that progressivism threatens a core element of the United States’ founding—the belief that it is “self-evident” that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,” as described in the Declaration of Independence.

Americans need to take Thomas’ warning seriously.

Hilliary political machine dumps major money into SD32, backs Curtis Erwin over conservative Sen. Dusty Deevers

2026-06-01T20:39:51.168-05:00

Candidate Curtis Erwin flanked by major donors Dustin (l) and Michael Hilliary (r)

There's a new big-time player on the Oklahoma political scene. The Hilliary family of southwest Oklahoma, known best for their broadband company (Hilliary Communications) and a growing statewide media network (Hilliary Media Group), rose in recent years from relative obscurity to being among the biggest political donors in Oklahoma and garnering appointments to key governmental roles and boards.

Now, they are setting their sights on Lawton area's State Senate District 32, backing political blank-slate newcomer Curtis Erwin against one of the most conservative Republicans in the Oklahoma State Senate, Dusty Deevers. This is the second election in a row that they have heavily backed a candidate in this Senate seat, having flushed tens of thousands of dollars into a candidate who lost to Deevers in the 2023 special election.

Voters in Senate District 32 need to recognize this for what it is: a brazen attempt by powerful special interests to oust a vocal conservative reformer.

They voted to make it easier to raise your taxes. Vote accordingly.

2026-05-30T19:49:12.491-05:00

In 1992, Oklahoma voters revolted against higher taxes and passed State Question 640, a constitutional amendment that attacked the ease with which tax increases had historically been passed. SQ640 required revenue-raising measures to either be passed by a majority vote of the people (50%+1) or a 75% vote in both houses of the Legislature, rather than a simple legislative majority as had been the practice.

Big government advocates and tax hogs have complained about it ever since.

During the last major state budget crisis (2016-2018), most legislative Republicans abandoned their conservative principles in the face of tough fiscal choices. Additionally, they increasingly started to talk about gutting SQ640 and lowering the standard for revenue-raising measures.

Until the 2017-18 special sessions, no outright tax increase had achieved that 75% hurdle, although hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes had been raised through other means (votes of the people, fees, and other sleight-of-hand loopholes). To be fair, very few outright tax increases had been previously attempted. Nevertheless, the 75% hurdle did not prove to be "impossible" as tax fans had decried.

At the beginning of the 2018 legislative session, efforts began in earnest to actually reduce the revenue-raising threshold and gut SQ640's constitutional language. House leadership filed a measure (HJR1032) to drop the threshold to 3/5ths (60%), and then a new measure (HJR 1050) to change it to 2/3rds was brought to the floor.

All of this continued to ignore the fact that a statewide vote of the people only requires a bare majority of 50%+1 vote. Legislators continue to fear placing tax increase measures before the voters, counting instead on short memories to cover up their legislative voting records.

HJR 1050 made it to a vote. An amendment was submitted to reduce the tax-hike vote threshold from the proposed 2/3rds back down to 60% (like HJR 1032). That amendment failed, although a shameful 39 Republicans voted for it. The next vote saw 44 Republicans join 7 Democrats in passing the bill.

That brings us to this election. Three Republicans on the June primary ballot for statewide office and one running for Congress voted to gut SQ640 and make it easier for the Legislature to raise your taxes.

Former House Speaker Charles McCall, and former Rep. Jon Echols, current Rep. John Pfeiffer, and then-Sen. Kim David all voted to reduce the tax-raising requirement from 3/4ths to 2/3rds. Speaker McCall and Reps. Echols and Pfeiffer voted to move it even lower to 3/5ths.Read more »

Trump endorses Mike Mazzei for OK Governor

2026-05-29T18:10:26.090-05:00

With a tightly-crowded Republican field of candidates, this just might call the race. This afternoon, President Donald Trump gave his "Complete and Total Endorsement" to Mike Mazzei for Governor of Oklahoma:

Remember: Kim David killed abortion ban — with a smirk

2026-05-28T07:53:06.204-05:00

artwork by T. Russell Hunter

Current Corporation Commissioner and former State Senator Kim David is one of the 11 Republican candidates running for the 1st Congressional District. Her record on tax and fiscal policy is abysmal (bodes well for being in DC, right?).

There's one other thing to know about Kim David.

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.

Angry senator drops accidental truth bomb in debate tirade

2026-05-27T15:32:07.142-05:00

This week, two state senators from different ends of the Republican caucus plainly told the truth about the stakes of this year's Republican primary election: it's about who gets to control the Oklahoma State Senate going forward. Will principled conservatives hold the reins for the first time, or will the establishment moderates continue their reign of power?

Senate Majority Whip Bill Coleman (R-Ponca City) absolutely erupted in anger at a Senate District 10 candidate forum in Ponca City this week, dropping an accidental truth bomb in the middle of a tirade against Senate conservatives.

Coleman said: "This election is about who is gonna control the Oklahoma State Senate, and I do not want it to be the Freedom Caucus."

Just The Facts: Candidate Voting Records on 2016-2018 Tax Hikes

2026-05-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

There are a number of current or former Republican state legislators running for higher office, and I wanted to do a post on their voting records during the 2016-2018 tax hike spree that Governor Mary Fallin and the GOP-led legislature went on (I ran the first version of this post during the 2022 election).

During good economic times, Republicans like to run on tax cuts and no-new-taxes pledges, but the real test of their espoused principles comes during economic downturns and belt-tightening eras. Will their rhetoric match their governing, when push comes to shove and budgets have to be balanced? Will their instinct be to raise taxes, or to cut government?

So, without further ado, Just The Facts: 2026 Candidate Voting Records on Major Tax and Fee Increases in the Oklahoma Legislature, 2016-2018. We will specifically be looking at the voting record of 12 current or former Republican legislators who are on the June 16th GOP primary election ballot for statewide or congressional offices.

The colors I used in the following graphics are not 'green for good, red for bad'. Green means they voted for the tax increase measure, Red means they voted against the tax increase measure, Gray means they missed the vote, and blank means they were not eligible to vote (for example, Sen. Mazzei left office in 2016, and was only around to vote on three of these bills; Humphrey, Pugh, and West didn't enter office until the 2016 election, and thus their votes start in 2017. In other cases the bill either did not receive a hearing in that legislative chamber or the member was not on the committee where a vote took place).

The very last measure in each graphic, HJR1050, is perhaps the most important of these recorded votes, as a green/yes vote there indicates that the legislator voted to make it much easier for the Legislature to raise your taxes.

Let's dive in. The following five former state legislators are running for Governor or U.S. Congress (with former state senators Brecheen and Bice being current members of Congress):

(click to view larger)

Of these five former legislators, only Brecheen was in the small group of legislative conservatives who valiantly fought a losing effort against the onslaught of tax hikes. Speaker Charles McCall, in particular, ignominiously supported and promoted every tax increase proposal during this time period.

The next graphic examines seven other current or former Republican state legislators from that time period who are on the ballot for other statewide offices:

Small: Session will reap benefit for years

2026-05-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

Session will reap benefit for years
By Jonathan Small

Academic outcomes in Oklahoma’s public school system have been among the worst in the nation for years. But this year’s legislative session alters that trajectory and the full benefit will become apparent over time.

One of the most important actions taken this year was passage of Senate Bill 1778, which effectively requires that students read at least on a second-grade level before beginning the fourth grade, or face retention in the third grade. The new law also provides for intensive early intervention for struggling students in the first through third grades.

Based on state testing results, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders read at or above grade level, and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests show that only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth-grade students scored at or above proficient in 2024. Only two states did worse.

American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) endorses State Treasurer Todd Russ for reelection

2026-05-22T10:58:56.298-05:00

American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Endorses Todd Russ for Oklahoma State Treasurer

Oklahoma City, OK – May 14, 2026 – American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR), Oklahoma’s leading voice for family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, today proudly announced its endorsement of incumbent State Treasurer Todd Russ in his bid for re-election.

“Todd Russ has proven himself as a steadfast advocate for Oklahoma’s agricultural producers and rural economies,” said AFR Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “His conservative fiscal management, support for agricultural lending programs, and commitment to strengthening Oklahoma’s financial stability directly benefit our members who rely on strong markets, reliable infrastructure, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. AFR is confident that Treasurer Russ will continue delivering results for family farms and ranches across the state.”

New Oklahoma law expands raw milk sales

2026-05-22T10:23:24.565-05:00

New Oklahoma Law Expands Raw Milk Sales

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 14th) — A bill giving Oklahoma dairy producers more freedom to sell raw milk has been signed into law.

Senate Bill 2028, introduced by Sen. Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada, and Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, allows dairy producers to advertise the sale of raw milk on their farms. It also raises the monthly sales cap, enabling producers to sell up to 1,500 gallons of raw milk per month.

Wingard said the bill expands opportunities for direct-to-consumer raw milk sales as demand for the product continues to grow.

Gov. Stitt, AG Drummond trade barbs over cooperating with Trump Medicaid fraud audit

2026-05-22T10:12:28.822-05:00

One of the positive things to look forward to after this year will be the end of this endless bickering and fighting between Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond (who I certainly hope does not become Oklahoma's next governor...). Drummond wouldn't agree with Stitt if Stitt said the sky was blue.

Governor Stitt Directs Attorney General to Align Efforts with Trump Administration Crackdown on Medicaid Fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 20, 2026) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt directed the Attorney General to cooperate with the Trump administration’s audit of Medicaid Fraud Control Units and ensure that Oklahoma taxpayer dollars are not being misused by bad actors.

The letter reads, in part:

“President Trump’s audit is aimed at aggressive enforcement, accurate documentation, and real accountability from Medicaid providers. That is the right agenda, and Oklahoma should be leading it.

Small: Attack on State Treasurer lacks merit

2026-05-19T20:33:00.000-05:00

Attack on state treasurer lacks merit

By Jonathan Small

In politics, particularly during election years, thinly sourced allegations of wrongdoing are not unusual. Even so, a recent attack on State Treasurer Todd Russ makes for especially thin gruel. We’re supposed to believe Russ spearheaded a conspiracy to award a state contract … to the lowest bidder.

Several years ago, the Oklahoma Legislature created the Invest in Oklahoma program to encourage state pensions to invest up to 5 percent of their assets in Oklahoma-based companies. Eventually, lawmakers also voted to put the treasurer’s office in charge of the program but provided no extra funding to the agency to cover associated costs.

Youth camp weather safety and action plan bill signed into law

2026-05-19T13:31:00.000-05:00

Camp Safety Bill Signed into Law

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 18th) – A bill requiring all youth camps and outdoor programs to conduct a site-specific hazard assessment and develop an emergency action plan by the end of the year has become law.

Rep. Josh Cantrell, R-Kingston, is the author of House Bill 1675.

"Camp should be a fun time for our kids," Cantrell said. "But in Oklahoma, we have a lot of severe weather. Making sure our camps are as prepared as they can be will help keep young campers safe and give parents and everyone else involved much more peace of mind."

Gov. Stitt touts win for accountability, gov't reform in state boards and commissions

2026-05-19T11:24:00.000-05:00

Governor Stitt Celebrates Win for Accountability and Government Reform

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 15, 2026) - Governor Kevin Stitt today said the final day of the legislative session sent a clear message that Oklahomans are ready for reform, accountability, and consolidation across the state’s more than 400 boards and commissions.

On Sine Die, the Legislature failed to override the Governor’s veto of House Bill 3320, which would have permanently extended 39 boards and commissions by removing their statutory sunset dates.

“Sunset dates exist for a reason,” said Governor Stitt. “They force government to justify its existence, prove its value to taxpayers, and remain accountable to the people. We should not permanently extend boards and commissions without first seeking reform and consolidation. The answer cannot always be more government.”

AFP-OK celebrates legislative victories following end of the 2026 session

2026-05-19T08:28:00.000-05:00

AFP-OK Celebrates Legislative Victories Following End of the 2026 Session

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 18th) - Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) celebrated the end of a successful 2026 legislative session today, highlighting its victories and sharing its goals for next year. The chapter’s wins beneath the dome this year reflect its ongoing commitment to making the Sooner State the most prosperous state in the nation by advocating for the policies to make it happen, whether it’s expanding school options or strengthening free speech protections and agency transparency.

AFP-OK's biggest legislative wins for 2026 include:

Oklahoma adds Alpha-gal Syndrome to reportable disease list, aims to raise awareness

2026-05-19T07:07:00.000-05:00

I have several friends and acquaintances who afflicted with Alpha-gal Syndrome. It's a spreading problem, and more needs to be studied and done to combat it.

Stanley Applauds Signing of Reportable Disease Legislation, Recognizes Alpha-Gal Awareness Month

OKLAHOMA CITY— Senator Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, applauded Senate Bill 1644 becoming law, legislation she authored to designate Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) as a reportable disease in Oklahoma.

Alpha-gal syndrome is a potentially life-threatening allergic condition, most often caused by lone star tick bites, that is increasingly affecting Oklahomans. The disease causes varying symptoms ranging from mild to severe, most commonly causing allergic reactions to meat and other animal products such as dairy and certain medications.

SB 1644 directs the Commissioner of Health to add Alpha-Gal Syndrome to the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s published list of reportable diseases and conditions, helping improve awareness and data collection related to the growing condition.

“This new law will ensure Alpha-Gal Syndrome is added to the state’s reportable disease list so we can better support patients and healthcare providers as they work to understand and treat this disease,” Stanley said.

Stanley, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said improving awareness and public health monitoring of Alpha-Gal Syndrome is critical.

To further awareness efforts, the Oklahoma Senate adopted Senate Resolution 28, declaring May as Alpha-Gal Awareness and Prevention Month in Oklahoma to help increase public understanding of the condition and encourage tick-bite prevention efforts statewide.

“Recognizing Alpha-Gal Awareness Month is an important opportunity to educate Oklahomans about this serious condition and the impact it has on families across our state,” Stanley said. “I was proud to author SB 1644 and support the adoption of SR 28 to encourage prevention and education efforts related to tick exposure and Alpha-Gal Syndrome.”

Stanley’s Senate Bill 1644 will take effect Nov. 1.

Small: SQ 832 means higher prices

2026-05-18T23:06:44.589-05:00

SQ 832 means higher prices

By Jonathan Small

Supporters of State Question 832, which would impose a California-style wage law in Oklahoma that continually increases the state minimum wage based on the cost of living in places like New York City, portray it as a magic elixir that will boost economic growth and wages for all.

In reality, SQ 832 will boost prices for all while reducing job opportunities for many.

State Question 832 would impose a $15 an hour minimum wage and require rapid escalation every year thereafter, putting the wage mandate on a fast track to $35 and higher in future years.

Obviously, as wages rise, some businesses will reduce job creation, cut worker hours, or resort to automation.

But the ripple effects of SQ 832 mean those entry-level workers, and all Oklahomans, will also pay higher prices.

KFOR digs into PAC running AI-generated anti-Mazzei ad, finds deep Drummond ties, controversial consultant

2026-05-18T17:56:39.396-05:00

Ah, check it out, the same names behind almost every sleazy, dirty trick in Oklahoma politics are doing it again, just skirting the fringes of legality, as their custom is. If it's dirty, questionable, or unethical, you can almost bet money that political consulting firm CAMP or someone with ties to consultant Fount Holland is behind it:

News 4 investigates: PAC running AI-generated anti-Mazzei ad tied to firm running Drummond campaign

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The man behind a political group running a controversial AI-generated attack ad in Oklahoma’s governor’s race also holds a top position at the firm running a different candidate’s campaign—raising questions about whether the two are illegally coordinating.

The group’s ad targets Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei. The firm in question runs the campaign of opponent Gentner Drummond.

Mazzei’s campaign accuses the group of illegally coordinating with Drummond’s campaign. The group and Drummond’s campaign both deny it.

SQ 832: a competition-crushing, AI-adopting dream for Big Business

2026-05-13T13:44:49.795-05:00

SQ 832: A Competition-Crushing, AI-Adopting Dream for Big Business

State Question 832, the ballot measure that would dramatically raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage, is a gift to Big Business, Big Tech, and the accelerating AI revolution. Oklahomans will vote on June 16th to decide the fate of our state's economic future. SQ 832 is bad news, and let me take a few moments to warn you about it.

We stand at the threshold of tremendous technological transformation, one that risks the “de-humanization” of common work. AI, algorithms, and robotics are increasingly being used, in all industries, to handle routine tasks. I'm watching it grow in the cleaning and restoration industry; I'm sure it's in your field as well.

If you pay any attention at all to what the Big Tech gurus are saying at global conferences and shindigs, they are eager to remove humans from the labor equation wherever possible. Other actors are seeking to use this to pursue a socialist Universal Basic Income, whereby everyone is on the government dole and thus more easily controlled, particularly as tech-driven surveillance becomes more mainstream (see State Rep. Tom Gann's long-running fight against the implementation of Flock cameras and similar technology across the state).

SQ 832 does not fight this trend; it subsidizes it. Rather than lifting employees up the ladder, it would saw it off above their reach.

AFP-OK praises Stitt for signing landmark guidance transparency bill

2026-05-12T09:25:00.003-05:00

AFP-OK Praises Gov. Stitt for Putting Signature to Landmark Guidance Transparency Legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 11th) - Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) praised Gov. Kevin Stitt for signing a new guidance transparency bill. Senate Bill (SB) 1433 reforms the state’s Administrative Procedures Act to ensure that any state agency guidance documents – such as memos, policy statements, or directives – are made public so that people can better understand how agencies interpret and enforce laws and regulations.

AFP-OK State Director John Tidwell gave the following statement:

Russ: county treasurers misuse taxpayer-funded gov't emails to endorse candidate, violating Ethics rules

2026-05-05T14:22:00.002-05:00

The biggest disappointment to me so far in this election cycle was when Cindy Byrd, at the last second, switched from running for an open Lieutenant Governor seat to filing against incumbent State Treasurer Todd Russ. My impression has been that Russ has done a good job as Treasurer, and the manner in which Byrd (who has been a fantastic State Auditor) switched races last-minute has left many with a bad taste in their mouth. Here is the first set of fireworks I've seen in this race, from the campaign of State Treasurer Russ:

Oklahoma County Treasurers Misuse Taxpayer-Funded Government Emails to Endorse Political Candidate, Violating Oklahoma Ethics Rules

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 5th) – A chain of emails circulated among Oklahoma county treasurers reveals a clear misuse of official county government email addresses and taxpayer resources to endorse Cindy Byrd’s candidacy for State Treasurer. This practice directly contravenes Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules prohibiting the use of public funds, property, or time to influence elections.