OKPOLICY.ORG
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
Oklahoma News
Clean sweep for Republicans in Oklahoma as conservatives coast to wins in Governor, Superintendent and Congressional races: Republicans flexed their muscles, as Gov. Kevin Stitt easily staved off a challenge from Joy Hofmeister on Tuesday, Ryan Walters was elected as state Superintendent, and Republicans won all of the state’s seven Congressional races. [The Frontier]
- 2022 General Election Unofficial Results [Oklahoma Election Board]
- Oklahoma Republicans sweep statewide races [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt defeats Democrat Joy Hofmeister: Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt held off a tougher-than-expected challenge to his reelection on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Joy Hofmeister despite millions of dollars in attack ads against him. [Public Radio Tulsa via the Associated Press]
- Encore: Kevin Stitt reelected governor of Oklahoma [NonDoc]
- Kevin Stitt wins reelection for Oklahoma Governor, Ryan Walters becomes State Superintendent [KOSU]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt wins second term [Tulsa World]
- Pinnell leads GOP wave on down-ballot races [Tulsa World]
- Kevin Stitt wins second term as Oklahoma governor [CNHI via Norman Transcript]
Mapping Oklahoma Governor’s Races Since 2010: The Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas have steadily grown over the past two decades, shifting some political influence from rural to urban communities. [Oklahoma Watch]
‘Won’t go woke’: Ryan Walters elected state superintendent in win for Stitt: After an unusually dramatic election cycle for a typically-down-ballot race, Republican candidate and Secretary of Education Ryan Walters will be Oklahoma’s next State Superintendent of Public Instruction. [NonDoc]
- Ryan Walters elected as Oklahoma’s next schools superintendent [The Oklahoman]
Republicans sweep Oklahoma’s federal races: Republicans will hold onto both of Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate seats and all five congressional districts after an election in which all seven offices were up for grabs. [NonDoc]
- Republicans easily sweep Oklahoma congressional races [Tulsa World]
- Republican’s Lankford, Mullin win Oklahoma Senate seats [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Markwayne Mullin defeats Kendra Horn in Oklahoma US Senate race [The Oklahoman]
- Stephanie Bice wins new term, Josh Brecheen takes open seat [The Oklahoman]
- Markwayne Mullin, James Lankford sail to Senate victories [Tulsa World]
Editorial: Votes are in, winners chosen, let’s move on: Democracy works when people run for office, voters show up at the polls and the electorate accepts the results. We appreciate those who offered themselves for candidacy. For those who won, congratulations. But we offer a thought about governing in the years ahead. Campaign rhetoric insinuated — and sometimes outright claimed — that America is engaged in a civil war. That is not true. Our country has divides over political philosophy and public policy, and it’s up to our representatives to find common ground for progress. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
State Government News
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority responds to allegations of modifying public meeting agendas: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says the latest legal spat over proposed turnpike routes in central Oklahoma can be chalked up to routine website management, but more questions loom on the horizon about the legality of the project. [StateImpact Oklahoma]
Oklahoma lawmaker hopes to change state question law: State Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, has said he intends to refile a resolution during the next legislative session proposing to change the approval process for state questions. [Journal Record]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma’s state question process should be protected
Tribal Nations News
Native vote turned out in force: From “something else” to “Indigenous creatures,” Native voters hit the polls in high numbers once again. And as in the 2020 presidential election, they made a difference. [Indian Country Today]
Native voter push not enough to tip scales of power in Oklahoma’s Governor race: Despite a big push for Native voter turnout, it wasn’t enough to win the Governor’s race. According to the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, Indigenous people account for about 14 percent of eligible voters in the state. [KOSU]
The Indian Child Welfare Act: What it is and What’s at Stake: The Indian Child Welfare Act’s preference for placing Native children with Native families is taking center stage in Brackeen v. Haaland, one of four Supreme Court cases on the issue to be heard together, starting today. [Native News Online]
- Supreme Court hears challenge to Native child welfare law [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: Tribal-state coordination to prioritize Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare is one way to improve child well-being
Markwayne Mullin becomes first Native U.S. Senator in nearly two decades: With more than 93 percent of precincts reporting, Mullin received nearly 63 percent of the vote as of late Tuesday night, according to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board. His Democratic challenger Kendra Horn only had about 34 percent — too far behind to overcome the Republican victor’s lead. [Indianz.com]
Native Americans call for unity at last Peace Walk of the year, which drew large crowd: Amid an intense election season and increased polarization of America, more than a few speakers and participants at a recent Peace Walk said that unity in the community is needed now more than ever. [The Oklahoman]
Voting and Election News
Vicki Behenna beats Kevin Calvey in hotly contested Oklahoma County DA race: Democrat Vicki Behenna defeated Republican Kevin Calvey in a hotly contested race for Oklahoma County district attorney Tuesday. [NonDoc]
- Vicki Behenna wins election as Oklahoma County’s next DA [The Oklahoman]
Osborn wins Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor race: Incumbent Republican candidate Leslie Osborn has won the race for Oklahoma Labor Commissioner against Libertarian Will Daugherty and Democratic candidate Jack Henderson. [FOX 25]
Oklahomans retain all judges on ballot from Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals: Oklahomans voted to retain four justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and five judges on the Court of Civil Appeals at the end of Oklahoma’s midterm election. [The Oklahoman]
Voters Decide On Several Propositions Across Green Country: Voters across Green Country decided on some local propositions on Tuesday. [News On 6]
2022 Oklahoma City Area Election Results: See results from the Nov. 8 election. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma County re-elects Assessor Larry Stein and Treasurer Butch Freeman [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma County elects new district judge, associate district judge [The Oklahoman]
- Myles Davidson wins OK County District 3, Carrie Blumert reelected in District 1 [NonDoc]
Election results for Tulsa area races: Unofficial results from the state election board for Tulsa area races [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Two of three incumbent city councilors lose in runoff elections Tuesday [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa County assessor, District 1 commissioner win reelection [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa County prosecutor ekes out win over special judge in tight race for district judgeship [Tulsa World]
Dana Prieto upsets J.J. Dossett in area state legislative election; open seats split between Republicans, Democrats: All Tulsa-area state legislative incumbents except one were re-elected Tuesday in the statewide general election, while Republicans and Democrats split four open seats, according to unofficial results from the Oklahoma State Election Board. [Tulsa World]
Poll workers fail to give dozens of District 5 voters Tulsa City Council ballots: Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado said his office will ask the district attorney to determine whether poll workers impeded the voting process when they failed to provide City Council ballots to about 30 District 5 voters between 7 and 8 a.m. on Tuesday. [Tulsa World]
What we know about claims that Oklahoma poll workers told voters to vote straight party: Two metro area voting precincts were reminded Tuesday to refrain from over-explaining straight party voting after the ACLU received complaints that poll workers were telling voters they should vote straight party. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
Language crafted to benefit rural, critical-access hospitals: A change in language used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services concerning rural critical-access hospitals and their payment rates should benefit rural hospitals in Oklahoma, state lawmakers say. [Journal Record]
Economic Opportunity
MetaFund allocation to spur investment in underserved communities: MetaFund, an Oklahoma-based nonprofit geared to drive development in underserved communities, has been awarded a $50 million federal New Markets Tax Credit allocation. [Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
EV sales rise in Oklahoma, other states, but coasts still dominate: Electric vehicle sales are gaining traction across the United States, including in Oklahoma, but they’re still happening primarily on the East and West coasts and lagging in the middle of the country. [Journal Record]
Education News
Voters decide $955 million bond issue for Oklahoma City Public Schools: The biggest bond issue in Oklahoma City Public Schools’ history, worth $955 million in total, passed Tuesday, inching past the 60% threshold for approval. [The Oklahoman]
- Nearly $1 billion: OKCPS passes largest bond package in district history [NonDoc]
OU unveils $10M expansion of top-ranked flight school: Recognized this year as the nation’s top college-based flight school, the University of Oklahoma announced a $10 million expansion for a new building, more planes and hundreds of additional students. [Journal Record]
Mother sues Norman Public Schools over viral bullying incident: A viral video of a student with special needs being bullied that prompted celebrity outcry culminated in a lawsuit against Norman Public Schools last week. [The Oklahoman]
General News
Storms can’t keep Hochatown down; booming tourist spot votes to become an actual town: Hochatown, a booming southeastern Oklahoma tourist destination and magnet for Texas investors, is finally on its way to having paid police and fire protection and other local government services after voters on Tuesday decided to incorporate the community as a municipality. [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“The narratives have been driven a lot by the political divide, and what has happened is that communities have moved away from the table instead of to the table together. Oftentimes, they feel misunderstood. I’m not saying who is right and who is wrong, but there are a lot of people in Oklahoma of decent and high character who want to come together for mutual solutions, instead of division. We simply believe that there is a better way to get to tomorrow.”
– Rev. Clarence Hill, founder of the Stronger Together movement that conducts Peace Walks in Oklahoma City to unify the community. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
38th
Oklahoma’s national rank for health care affordability [Health Care Value Hub]
Policy Note
Health Care Affordability State Policy Scorecard: Polling data repeatedly shows that health care affordability is a top issue — often the number one issue—that state residents on both sides of the political aisle want their policymakers to work on. Moreover, it is well documented that people are declining coverage and delaying or forgoing care due to cost concerns — or getting care but struggling to pay the resulting bill—and that these affordability burdens affect nearly 70 percent of adults in some states. Health care affordability problems cause stress and anxiety for families, crowd out other critical family spending and lead to poorer and less equitable health outcomes. Evidence of affordability problems goes far up the income ladder and affect people of every stripe, functioning as a strong call for action that must be met with a comprehensive approach. [Health Care Value Hub] | [Oklahoma’s Health Care Affordability Scorecard]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
