Ward 6 councilmember says burnout, family priorities and City Hall culture influenced her decision
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon will not seek re-election in 2027, creating an open-seat race in Ward 6 and ending eight years as one of City Hall’s most outspoken voices.
Hamon, who represents Ward 6, announced she will step aside when her second term expires in May 2027. According to reporting by The Oklahoman, she said the decision was made a few years ago and was influenced by the personal toll of campaigning, a desire to focus on family and health, and frustrations with what she described as a City Hall culture that is often unreceptive to dissent and critical questioning.
First elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, Hamon represents a district that includes much of downtown Oklahoma City, Capitol Hill, Stockyards City and the Calle Dos Cinco corridor. She has built a reputation as a progressive advocate for public transit, affordable housing, homelessness initiatives and alternative responses to mental health crises.
Throughout her tenure, Hamon frequently found herself on the losing side of council votes, including high-profile opposition to increased police funding and the city’s arena agreement with the Oklahoma City Thunder. She has also become known for relying on bicycling and EMBARK transit services rather than driving a personal vehicle.
Among the initiatives she championed were the Key to Home partnership’s Encampment Rehousing Initiative, affordable housing investments through MAPS 4 and other city programs, and the development of Oklahoma City’s Mobile Integrated Health program, which provides alternatives to traditional police responses for certain mental health-related calls.
Hamon told The Oklahoman that the 2023 election cycle was particularly difficult. She defeated challenger Marek Cornett but also faced attacks from outside groups that accused her of being anti-military and anti-jobs, claims she rejected at the time. Looking back, Hamon said she does not believe she could endure another campaign cycle like that and is ready to focus more on her personal well-being.
She also pointed to broader frustrations with City Hall dynamics. In interviews and public statements cited by The Oklahoman, Hamon described a City Hall culture where disagreement is often viewed as combative rather than constructive and said critical questioning can be seen as divisive.
In 2020, the local Fraternal Order of Police publicly criticized Hamon over her comments regarding police spending and culture, reflecting broader disagreements that marked portions of her tenure.
The announcement creates an open-seat race in one of the city’s most politically distinctive wards. According to The Oklahoman, Landry Willis, a clean-energy professional and public transit advocate, has already announced a campaign for the seat. Willis has previously worked as a government affairs specialist for the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of Realtors and has emphasized affordable housing, transit and homelessness issues in his campaign.
Candidate filing for the race is not scheduled until December.
Ward 6 is one of four Oklahoma City Council seats scheduled for election in 2027. Incumbents James Cooper in Ward 2, Matt Hinkle in Ward 5 and Mark Stonecipher in Ward 8 are also up for re-election. The nonpartisan city election is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2027.
Source: The Oklahoman
