OKPOLICY.ORG
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
Policy Matters: The votes are counted. Now the real work begins: To everyone elected to serve Oklahoma this year, congratulations. Whether you won your first race or earned another term, voters have placed their trust in you. Now comes the responsibility of turning campaign promises into meaningful change. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
State Government News
Long Story Short: A Town on the Edge, Unused Grants and DUI Pitfalls (podcast): An examination of how funding cuts threaten to undo major progress against violence in a small Oklahoma town. Also, a breakdown of why nearly three dozen counties are failing to utilize criminal justice diversion grant funds, and a discussion of the critical flaws in Oklahoma’s two-track DUI system. [Oklahoma Watch]
Federal Government News
The blue tsunami sweeps the US, as Democrats land huge gains in Congress: Voters across the country administered a sharp reprimand to President Donald Trump and Republicans who hold majorities in Congress, with Democrats gaining comfortable majorities in the Senate and the House. [Oklahoma Voice]
- OKC Republican mayor says ‘bankrupt’ party deserved Election Night rebuke [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma stayed red, but Democrats still grabbed wins in a national blue wave [The Frontier]
- Democrats score control of US Senate in stunning midterm victory [Oklahoma Voice]
Five Oklahoma Federal Judges’ Financial Disclosures Are Missing. The Deadline Is Next Week.: Annual financial disclosure reports show one Oklahoma federal judge received plane tickets to New York from a long-time friend. Another was given tickets to see “To Kill a Mockingbird” by a family friend and eight judges were reimbursed by universities or organizations for events across the country. Those reimbursements and gifts are not incriminating, but the disclosure website includes gaps of more than a year. [Oklahoma Watch]
Voting and Election News
Five things to know about how Oklahoma voted in midterm elections: Legislative seats flipped to Democrats, including some held by Republican House leaders. Republicans also held onto all statewide offices and five congressional districts, while the governor’s race shifted sharply toward Democrats compared with 2024. [The Frontier]
- What happened in the Oklahoma midterm elections? See result rundown [The Oklahoman]
Early voting surged in Oklahoma midterms, but overall turnout still dropped: Oklahoma voter turnout in the 2026 midterm election fell to its lowest level among comparable elections since 2014, even as early voting reached some of the highest levels in recent state history. [The Oklahoman]
- Nationwide voter turnout surge skips Oklahoma, where less than half of registered voters cast a ballot [Tulsa Flyer]
- General election voter turnout declines in Oklahoma [Oklahoma Voice]
Congressional Election Results
- Did 2021 redistricting seal Bice’s victory over Nelson in Oklahoma’s CD-5 race? [OPMX via KGOU]
Statewide Election Results
- Oklahoma’s next governor discusses transition plans [Oklahoma Voice]
- Mazzei touts Oklahoma GOP strength despite national Democratic gains [The Journal Record]
- Mazzei addresses GOP losses, hints at transition plans [KOSU]
- Education Watch: Franklin Elected State Superintendent [Oklahoma Watch]
State House & Senate Election Results
- Dems oust five Oklahoma Republican incumbents [Oklahoma Voice]
- Democrats flip 6 Oklahoma House seats, chipping at GOP supermajority [The Oklahoman]
- Democrat will represent Lawton in Oklahoma House District 64 for first time in over 20 years [KOSU]
- 26-year-old Dalton Gau wins Oklahoma House District 83, flipping seat for Democrats [KOCO]
Other Election Stories
- Democratic wave could bring changes to Oklahoma County government [The Oklahoman]
- Voters sail through a mostly smooth Election Day, despite fears of federal interference [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
New Oklahoma Children’s OU Health center to expand pediatric behavioral healthcare in state: Oklahoma’s first comprehensive pediatric behavioral health center integrated with a children’s hospital is expected to begin serving patients in December. Oklahoma Children’s OU Health celebrated the facility’s grand opening Wednesday, ushering in a new era of whole-person healthcare that’s closer to home. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
New data shows 44 Oklahoma rural hospitals face closure: Dozens of Oklahoma’s rural hospitals are at risk of closing. A new report says funding cuts are not the only reason why. [KFOR]
Justice System News
‘I made bad decisions’: Coal County Sheriff Jason Smith removed from office: A Coal County jury found suspended Sheriff Jason Smith guilty of oppression in office Wednesday, and a judge ordered his immediate removal. With District Judge Emily Maxwell presiding, the three-day trial unfolded nearly a year after Oklahoma’s multi-county grand jury recommended Smith’s removal from office in November 2025. [NonDoc]
‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond’s foster son takes plea deal in drug, assault case: The 24-year-old foster son of “Pioneer Woman” Ree Drummond, Oklahoma native and Food Network personality, has reached a plea deal in his drug and assault case. [The Oklahoman]
Are the new Oklahoma County jail plans dead after Democratic sweep?: Plans for a new Oklahoma County jail are likely foiled after the sea change that came with the Nov. 3 election. [The Oklahoman]
- Editorial: Voters to Oklahoma County jail officials: We don’t trust you [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
Oklahoma City man accused of sending threatening letters with white powder to election officials: An Oklahoma City resident has been arrested following accusations that he sent more than 700 threatening letters to officials around the country. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma City man charged over threatening letters to election officials [Reuters]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma economists assess labor market, inflation and post-election outlook: Oklahoma City has added more than 90,000 residents in the past five years, but for many of them, rising costs and a slow job market are cutting into the city’s economic gains. [The Journal Record]
Local Headlines
- Norman City Council discusses next steps for shelter bonds, immigration resolution [OU Daily]
- Greenwood Legacy Corporation Council of Elders to help shape future of north Tulsa [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“I encourage every incoming elected official to take this time to study the issues, listen to Oklahomans, work across differences, and deliver solutions that improve everyday life. That’s what public service should be about. And that’s the standard every Oklahoman deserves.”
– OK Policy Executive Director Shiloh Kantz, reflecting on why our civic obligations and the responsibilities of elected officials extend well beyond Election Day. [The Journal Record]
Number of the Day
77.5%
Percentage of Oklahoma Legislature seats held by Republicans in the upcoming session, while 53.1% of registered voters are Republicans. Democrats make up 25.6% of registered voters and will have 34 members (26 in the House; 8 in the Senate). Independents are 20.4% of voters, but no incoming lawmakers are registered as independents. [Oklahoma Election Board Voter Registration Statistics, November 2026 ] | [The Frontier]
Policy Note
State elections, policy choices, and accountability: Although often overlooked, state legislatures are gaining national prominence because of their influence over important policy areas, including election administration, education, gun control, and abortion. This growing influence has raised concerns about whether state legislative elections provide sufficient accountability to voters, particularly when policymaking on these issues may become disconnected from the democratic process. However, research suggests that elections do influence legislators’ behavior, with state lawmakers demonstrating greater visible activity when seeking reelection than when term limits prevent them from running again. These findings suggest that voters can play an important role in shaping state policy by increasing electoral pressure on lawmakers seeking reelection. [Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research]
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