Tag: oklahoma
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Five Republican trifecta states and one with divided government enact bills reducing agency power in 2026
State legislative sessions in 2026 have featured a number of bills affecting the administrative state, with five Republican trifecta states and one state with a divided government enacting bills that reduce the power of state agencies. The term administrative state refers to executive branch agencies with unelected officials (in this case, at the state level)…
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Eight primaries are contested in Oklahoma this year — tying with 2016 for the second-most since 2014
This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Oklahoma was April 3, 2026. Eight primaries — four Democratic and four Republican — are contested this year. In total, there were five contested primaries in 2024, four in 2022, six in 2020, nine in 2018, eight in 2016, and seven…
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Jon Echols (R) and Jeff Starling (R) are running in the Republican primary for Oklahoma Attorney General on June 16, 2026
Jon Echols (R) and Jeff Starling (R) are running in the Republican primary for Oklahoma Attorney General on June 16, 2026. Incumbent Gentner Drummond (R), first elected in 2022, is running for governor. The last election for Oklahoma Attorney General without an incumbent on the ballot was in 2010. The Southwest Ledger's M. Scott Carter…
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State executives are retiring in three of the five states that had filing deadlines in April
In April, the filing deadline passed in five states, four of which are holding state executive elections in November: Virginia (April 2nd), Oklahoma (April 3rd), New York, North Dakota (April 6), and Michigan (April 21). Virginia is not holding state elections in 2026, while the rest of the states are. According to Ballotpedia’s data, state…
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Over the past two weeks, seven new ballot measures were certified in three states — California, Missouri, and Oklahoma
As of April 28, 99 statewide measures have been certified for the ballot in 36 states, 10 more measures than the average number certified at this point in other even-numbered years over the past decade (2014 to 2024). Here’s an update on the latest ballot measure activity during the past two weeks: The most recent…
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Oklahoma voters to decide a constitutional amendment that would reduce the annual growth limit of the fair cash value of property
Oklahoma voters will decide on a constitutional amendment on Nov. 3, 2026, that would reduce the annual growth limit of the assessed value of property used when calculating property taxes. The Oklahoma State Senate approved Senate Joint Resolution 39 (SJR 39) on April 27, sending the measure to the state ballot. If approved, the amendment…
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Legislatures in 12 states set to adjourn in May as lawmakers consider at least 60 potential legislative ballot measures
Legislatures in 12 states—Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Vermont—are set to adjourn in May 2026. In the coming weeks, lawmakers in these states will decide whether to advance measures to the statewide ballot. Across these states, at least 60 potential ballot measures have already completed at least…
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Oklahoma voters to decide constitutional amendment changing Judicial Nominating Commission structure on Nov. 3, 2026
The Oklahoma State Legislature referred a constitutional amendment related to the nomination of judges within the state to the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide general election ballot. On April 9, 2026, legislators passed the amendment, which would change the structure of the state's Judicial Nominating Commission. The ballot measure would restructure the Judicial Nominating Commission, which…
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Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down fossil fuel divestment law
On April 7, 2026, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the Oklahoma Energy Discrimination Elimination Act of 2022 is unconstitutional when applied to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). The court also issued a permanent injunction preventing state Treasurer Todd Russ (R) from enforcing the law against OPERS. The ruling upheld a 2024 Oklahoma…
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Oklahoma voters to decide ballot measure to add voter ID requirement to the state constitution on Aug. 25, 2026
Voters in Oklahoma will decide on a constitutional amendment at a special election on Aug. 25, 2026, to require voters to provide identification to vote by any method. Currently, Oklahoma law requires voters to present identification when voting. The amendment would add this requirement to the state constitution, requiring voters to provide proof of identity…