Democrats will choose a U.S. Senate nominee, while every voter can decide two state questions and some will see local races or propositions.
OKLAHOMA CITY — With so much attention focused on the white-hot Republican gubernatorial runoff campaign, registered Democrats and independents might not realize they also have decisions to make Aug. 25.
Democrats statewide will choose between Jim Priest and N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination. All registered voters, including independents, may vote on two proposed constitutional amendments. Some voters also will find Democratic legislative or county races and nonpartisan local elections or propositions on their ballots.
Not every voter will receive the same ballot. Oklahoma’s political parties did not open their 2026-27 primaries to independent voters, so independents cannot participate in either party’s runoff. Party registration, however, does not limit voting on state questions or nonpartisan local elections.
Thomas and Priest compete for Senate nomination
Thomas led the five-candidate Democratic Senate primary with 45% of the vote, falling short of the majority required to win the nomination outright. Priest finished second with 24%.
The winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, Libertarian Sevier White and independents Curtis Stinnett and Ron Meinhardt in November.
Thomas’ campaign emphasizes her experience as a nurse, military spouse and mother of a child with autism. Her priorities include access to health care, the nursing shortage, education, military families, tribal sovereignty and autism services.
Priest points to his career as a civil rights and employment attorney, nonprofit executive and ordained minister. His campaign platform focuses on affordability, rural hospitals, public education, tariffs, government transparency and restrictions on congressional stock trading.
The candidates entered the runoff with different advantages. Thomas received nearly twice as many primary votes. Priest raised substantially more campaign money, and his campaign says all three candidates eliminated in June have endorsed him.
Two other Democratic runoffs
The State Election Board’s official election list shows only two other Democratic candidate runoffs, both in Oklahoma County.
In House District 99, Herschel L. Brown faces Carlos M. Robinson for the Democratic nomination for an open seat. Brown received 37% of the five-candidate primary vote, while Robinson received 24%.
Registered Democrats in Oklahoma County Commission District 1 will choose between incumbent Jason Lowe and Kayla Baker. Lowe received 49% in June, narrowly missing the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Baker finished second with 28%.
Only voters who live within those districts will see the contests on their ballots.
Two questions open to every voter
Every registered voter may vote on State Questions 844 and 846, regardless of party affiliation.
SQ 844 would retain the five-year manufacturing property-tax exemption but give future lawmakers greater control over how the state reimburses schools, counties and other local entities for lost revenue. SQ 846 would place Oklahoma’s existing voter-identification requirement in the Oklahoma Constitution while leaving lawmakers to determine what proof is acceptable.
The questions would move legislative authority in opposite directions. A more detailed explanation is available in the Oklahoma Politics Today article, “Two ballot questions would move legislative power in opposite directions.”
Some voters also will see nonpartisan municipal races, county questions or school propositions. Those contests are open to all eligible voters within the affected jurisdiction, including independents. Because local ballots vary by residence, voters can use the OK Voter Portal to confirm their polling place and view the sample ballot for their precinct.
Early voting is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 20-21 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 22. Election Day polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
For some independents, the only items on the Aug. 25 ballot will be the two state questions. Democrats statewide will have the Senate runoff and those questions, with additional contests depending on where they live.
Despite the focus on Republican campaigns, every registered Oklahoma voter has something to decide Aug. 25.
