OKLAHOMA CITY – A total of 569 political hopefuls filed for elected office last week, officials with the state election board said.
Political candidates had three days – beginning on Wednesday, April 13 – to file for office. Election board officials said they expected to close to 600 would seek office.
Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said this year’s candidate filing numbers were low for a gubernatorial year. As of last Friday one candidate, John Williams in State Senate District 22, withdrew his name for office.
The state’s largest races drew the most candidates.
In the contest to fill the remaining term of outgoing incumbent Jim Inhofe, 13 Republicans, including former House Speaker T.W. Shannon, Congressman Markwayne Mullin, and former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, have filed for the office. In addition, former Congresswoman Democrat Kendra Horn, Incumbent Robert Murphy and Independent Ray Woods are seeking the office.
Because Inhofe announced he was resigning his seat midterm, Oklahomans will elect both its U.S. Senators this fall.
In the second U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican James Lankford drew two primary opponents, Jackson Lahmeyer and Joan Farr. Six Democrats, one Libertarian and one Independent candidate are also seeking the office.
Fourteen Republicans also lined up to replace Mullin, in the state’s second Congressional district, after he announced he would seek the U.S. Senate seat. In addition to former Republican Party Chairman John Bennett, state Sen. Marty Quinn and former Sen. Josh Brecheen filed for the office.
The race also drew former Democrat and state Sen. Ben Robinson of Muskogee – who now listed as an Independent – and Democrat Naomi Andrews.
In the race for governor, incumbent Kevin Stitt drew three primary opponents, including Joel Kinstel, the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. The race for governor drew an Independent candidate, former state Sen. Ervin Yen, a Libertarian candidate and two Democrats – Joy Hofmeister, outgoing state school superintendent, and former state Sen. Connie Johnson.
Some secondary statewide officeholders, such as State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd and Attorney General John O’Connor, drew primary challengers while the office of State Treasurer drew three Republican candidates, one Democrat and one Libertarian.
Additionally, four Republicans will fight for the chance to face Democrat Jena Nelson in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Voters will go the polls on June 28 for the primary election. A runoff election, if needed, is scheduled for Aug. 23. The state’s general election will be held Nov. 8.
Statewide, 2,218,374 Oklahomans are registered to vote. In a letter to members of the state Legislature Ziriax, the election board secretary, said Oklahoma has one of the most accurate and secure election systems in the entire world.
Ziriax said his agency began developing post-election audit procedures in late 2019 and in early 2020. The agency had hope to implement the new procedures during the 2020 election but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the election board was again testing audit procedures consistent with the requirements enacted by the Legislature.
“When implemented, Oklahoma’s post-election tabulation audits will help ensure the public’s continued confidence in the security and accuracy of Oklahoma’s elections,” he wrote.