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In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. Subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
New from OK Policy
A corruption scandal reshaped Oklahoma’s courts. SQ 845 asks voters to roll back those reforms.: On Nov. 3, Oklahoma voters will decide State Question 845, which would change who can serve on the panel that nominates the state’s top judges. To understand what’s at stake, it helps to look back nearly 60 years to an Oklahoma judicial bribery scandal that Time magazine called one of the worst in American history. [Cole Allen / OK Policy]
- From OK Policy: SQ 845 Fact Sheet | SQ 845 Explainer Video | What’s on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 elections in Oklahoma?
Why SQ 847 threatens our classrooms and workforce: While we have strong institutions today, we cannot take for granted that they will continue to be strong if we limit their future. We cannot build a stronger economy by undermining the classrooms, training programs and colleges responsible for making it possible. On Nov. 3, we urge Oklahomans to vote no on SQ 847. [Read the full commentary from Paul and Julie Davis, who work as non-profit leaders in the Tulsa community]
- Read more voices of Oklahomans speaking out against SQ 847
- From OK Policy: SQ 847 Fact Sheet | SQ 847 Explainer Video
Oklahoma News
New Oklahoma laws took effect on Sunday: More than 200 new laws take effect Sunday following a legislative session that ended in May. Oklahoma’s newest laws run the gamut from ones designed to protect children to requiring GPS monitoring for some domestic violence defendants to new state symbols. [Oklahoma Voice]
- New Oklahoma laws on SNAP, marijuana, more start Nov. 1. Here’s what changes. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma leaders seek dismissal of lawsuit challenging state abortion bans: Defendants argue the state Constitution does not offer a right to end a pregnancy to individuals following a fatal diagnosis, unless it is to preserve their life. [KOSU]
Oklahoma faces billions in road repairs. Here are 5 things to know.: Oklahoma has an estimated $30 billion backlog in unfunded road repairs, replacements and upgrades, which officials say negatively impacts the state’s “economic competitiveness.”[Tulsa World]
Oklahoma State Department of Education faces discrimination, retaliation lawsuit: A former Oklahoma State Board of Education secretary has sued the state, alleging that she suffered age and gender discrimination and retaliation from former state Superintendent Ryan Walters’ administration. [Oklahoma Voice]
Gov. Kevin Stitt touts new federal ‘Opportunity Zones’ in Oklahoma, hopes to spur development: Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Oklahoma’s participation in a revamped federal program this week, which he says will help encourage development in a mix of high-need rural and urban areas across the state. [KOSU]
- Political notebook: Federal Opportunity Zones announced [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma’s medical marijuana journey chronicled by exiting state official: Oklahoma’s days as the “Wild West of Weed” may be over, but after five years at the helm of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, departing director Adria Berry describes the state’s still-sprawling legal cannabis industry as an evolving work in progress. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Restaurateur Brent Swadley’s light sentence for fraud isn’t justice for Oklahoma taxpayers: At this point, I shouldn’t have been surprised that another rich, politically connected Oklahoma man got off with the equivalent of a slap on the wrist for a felony conviction. That seems to be the way of the Oklahoma court system world. Judges and prosecutors throw the book at poorer defendants, sending them to prison for years. Wealthier defendants emerge largely unscathed, giving all the glory to God – and the best attorneys their money could buy. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
In a blizzard of lawsuits, Trump’s DOJ battles across the US over midterm elections: The Trump administration’s sweeping efforts to combat noncitizen voting and assert authority over elections came under intense scrutiny in courtrooms across the country on Thursday, as Democrats and voting rights groups alleged federal election interference. [Oklahoma Voice]
Ahead of midterms, U.S. energy secretary praises Oklahoma oil and gas, pushes for permitting reform: On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright addressed Continental Resources employees, lawmakers and others at the Hamm Institute for American Energy in Oklahoma City. [KGOU]
White evangelicals still back Trump as other faith groups cool, Pew finds: White evangelicals are more likely to view President Donald Trump’s job performance more favorably than other faith groups, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis that looked at how faith groups view Trump ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which many political analysts have described as a referendum on his second term thus far. [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
November highlights Native American cultures, from salmonberry picking to traditional tattoos: November is National Native American Heritage Month, which celebrates the diverse histories and cultures of hundreds of tribal communities across the U.S. Here is a collection of short stories highlighting joy in Native American and Alaska Native communities. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Early voting sets midterms record, breaking 2022 mark: As of early Friday, more than 46 million Americans had cast ballots ahead of Election Day, eclipsing the early voting turnout of the 2022 midterms, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. [Oklahoma Voice]
- What Oklahoma’s early voting, mail-in totals so far reveal about midterm [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa County projects record early voter turnout ahead of Nov. 3 general election [Public Radio Tulsa]
- The turnout battle is on as Democrats, Republicans fire up Oklahoma voters [Tulsa World]
Outside Groups Have Spent $5.5 Million on Oklahoma’s Midterm Races. Almost Half Has No Traceable Donor.: Outside groups have poured more than $5.5 million into Oklahoma midterm races as state regulators consider stricter disclosure requirements. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma can bring dark money into the light
Oklahoma candidates loaned themselves $32.6M. How do they get it back?: In recent years, political campaigns across the state and country have increasingly garnered funding from money loaned by candidates themselves, and further supported by small, individual donations, large contributions from wealthy supporters and infusions of cash from political action committees. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma lawmakers stand by election system as DOJ monitors arrive in Tulsa: State officials don’t know why the U.S. Department of Justice will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Muskogee counties to monitor Election Day. They don’t know what polling places will be monitored or what put Oklahoma on the agency’s watch list. [Tulsa Flyer]
- OKC lawmaker trains volunteers to watch federal election monitors [The Oklahoman]
Ranchers’ anger at Trump is threatening GOP in deep red areas: The Oklahoma governor’s race has become one of the most surprisingly competitive contests amid rising frustrations with president’s policies affecting the agricultural industry. [Washington Post]
- Mazzei, Munson among 5 seeking to succeed Stitt as Oklahoma governor [NonDoc]
- Inside the final days of Oklahoma’s governor race with Mazzei, Munson [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma imam calls out Mazzei ad using mosque photo to attack Munson [The Oklahoman]
- Munson refunding $2K Warren donation that broke Oklahoma ethics rules [The Oklahoman]
- Capitol Insider: Previewing the Oklahoma gubernatorial race and general election [KGOU]
Election Roundup
- ‘Focused on winning the race’: Oklahoma’s open U.S. Senate election draws a crowd [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma AG says Senate seat will be filled by election winner after results are certified [KOSU]
- Congressional roundup: As Tedford takes on Croissant, GOP incumbents seek return to Washington [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma CD 5: Stephanie Bice, Jena Nelson trade blows in royal rumble [NonDoc]
- Sales tax opponents gather at Oklahoma County jail, speak out against proposal to fund new facility [KOSU]
- How Oklahoma County leaders will vote on the Nov. 3 jail sales tax [The Oklahoman]
- Washington County associate district judge: Todd Cone faces Alan Wayne Gentges [NonDoc]
- Megan Hickman, Brian Mitchell seek Alfalfa County judge seat after besting incumbent [NonDoc]
- Tulsa’s District 1 City Council candidates share final thoughts before Tuesday’s runoff election [Tulsa World]
- From Oasis to City Lights: Tulsa District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper talks achievements and challenges [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Blighted spaces and vacant land: Tulsa District 1 candidate Corinice Wilson talks plans and issues facing north Tulsa [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- A week before Tulsa city council election, Vanessa Hall-Harper calls out dark money political attack ads [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Hitting the polls in Oklahoma on Nov. 3? Here’s everything you need to know about key races [KGOU]
- A full list of Tulsa-area races, issues on Nov. 3 ballots [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Faith, politics collide as Oklahoma fails its most vulnerable: Elections are threshold moments in our civic life. They are an indication of whether we intend to stay on the same path or choose a different road. Voting, as they say, is a form of prayer, protest and prophecy. Those who are elected to public office wield significant power and authority to shape our common life together. The ethics, values and integrity of the people we vote to hold these positions matter deeply. [The Rev. Lori Allen Walke / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Pharmacies due payouts in CVS Caremark settlement: More than 900 Oklahoma pharmacies are eligible to receive shares of more than $2.1 million in fines stemming from the settlement of a civil case involving CVS Caremark. [Tulsa World]
Justice System News
Politics or accountability? Kunzweiler, petitioners clash over motives for probe of DA: Grand Jury Justice says it’s seeking accountability in working to convene a grand jury investigation of the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, while Steve Kunzweiler feels politics are behind the effort targeting him. [Tulsa World]
- Learn more about those behind petition seeking grand jury probe of Tulsa DA [Tulsa World]
With new OKC headquarters, Palomar will more than double capacity to serve victims of abuse: A new $42 million family justice center under construction in Oklahoma City will give Palomar, a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, the space to more than double its capacity when it opens next spring. [KOSU]
Sara Polston loses credits for time served in drunk-driving prison sentence: Sara Polston won’t be getting out of prison again anytime soon. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections revoked credits from her drunken-driving prison sentence because she voted after going home on an ankle monitor. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa cancels Community Conversation tonight; severe weather in forecast [Tulsa World]
- Gun fired at trick-or-treaters, former Stephens County judge arrested for attempted murder [KFOR]
Quote of the Day
“Oklahoma created the (Judicial Nominating Commission) after seeing what can happen when confidence in the courts breaks down. There is no reason to weaken protections intended to preserve that confidence.”
-OK Policy’s Cole Allen, writing about SQ 845, which would change the rules for who can serve on the commission that selects candidates for the state’s top judges and also changes how its members are selected. The Judicial Nominating Commission was created by voters in the 1960s in response to an Oklahoma judicial bribery scandal that Time magazine called one of the worst in American history. SQ 845 is one of two state question’s on the Nov. 3 ballot. [Cole Allen / OK Policy]
Number of the Day
18.8%
Percentage of outside money in Oklahoma’s six federal races (one U.S. Senate and all five Congressional seats) during the 2026 election cycle, as of late October 2026. Outside money is considered to be political spending by groups and individuals acting independently of candidates and campaigns, including super PACs, dark money nonprofits, and other outside groups not subject to contribution limits. Overall, candidates in Oklahoma’s six federal races brought in $22.9 million, while outside groups spent $4.3 million. Nearly 9 in 10 outside dollars were spent supporting Republican candidates; the Oklahoma House District 5, currently held by Rep. Stephanie Bice, was the only race to receive outside money supporting a Democrat candidate. [Open Secrets]
Policy Note
Big Changes to Makeup of the Biggest Midterm Donors: Since Citizens United, the composition of the top 40 donors in the midterms has shifted dramatically: more money, more support for Republicans, less transparency, and new industries like crypto surging while older sectors like labor disappear. [Brennan Center for Justice]
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