The Oklahoma State Capitol. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) Happy New Year! From far-reaching policy decisions to hotly contested elections, there promises to be no shortage of Oklahoma news to follow in 2026.  Here’s a look at five political storylines to follow in 2026:  Who Emerges From a Crowded Field of Republican Gubernatorial Candidates? With Gov. Kevin [...]

The post Five Political Storylines to Follow in 2025 appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Friday to restore public access to the state’s online campaign finance database and seek legal action against a software developer that failed to deliver on a revamped system.

The post Oklahoma’s Campaign Finance Database is Back Online appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Luther residents Swen Nordlang, left, and Phyllis Dragus sign in and receive their ballots and cast their votes for the primary election at the town's only polling station on June 28, 2022. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) For the first time in a decade, registered independents will be barred from voting in all partisan primaries for the [...]

The post Political Parties Opt to Close Upcoming Primaries appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

A home in Yukon is seen in January. An initiative petition filed on Nov. 21 looks to eliminate property taxes on this house and hundreds of thousands of others statewide. (Paul Monies/Oklahoma Watch) One former and two current state lawmakers are leading an effort to gradually reduce residential property taxes to zero by the end [...]

The post Former, Current Legislators File Initiative to Eliminate Property Taxes appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1027, the sweeping legislation enacted in May that imposes several requirements on initiative petition organizers.  The high court’s ruling will shape the future of voter-led ballot initiative campaigns in Oklahoma, which have brought criminal justice reform, legalized medical marijuana and [...]

The post Oklahoma Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Initiative Petition Bill appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The empty ceremonial courtroom of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the Capitol is shown in this photo from 2020. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) The Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1027, the legislation that added geographic restrictions and other hurdles to the state’s initiative petition process, tomorrow morning at [...]

The post Oklahoma Supreme Court Will Weigh Initiative Petition Bill appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

AJ Griffin, a former Republican state lawmaker and proponent of State Question 836, speaks to the media at a rally on Oct. 29, 2025. The ballot initiative proposes a top-two primary system where all candidates appear on a nonpartisan ballot. (Jake Ramsey/Oklahoma Watch) Proponents of State Question 836 launched their signature gathering effort on Wednesday, [...]

The post State Question 836 Campaign Begins Gathering Signatures appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Steven Harpe left his post as director of the Department of Corrections to take a job at LeoTech, an AI company awarded a million-dollar contract by the department months earlier.

The post Former Corrections Director Approved Million Dollar Deal With AI Company, Then Went to Work For Them appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

OKC police are withholding police reports unless there was an arrest, charges or a warrant, alarming transparency advocates. The public access counselor sided with police, allowing the practice to continue and, potentially, spread.

The post OKC Police Are Withholding Reports, Alarming Transparency Advocates appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

State Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, speaks at a Black History Day event at the Capitol on Feb. 25. (Courtesy Legislative Services Bureau) State Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City is in hot water over alleged campaign finance violations.  On Thursday afternoon, investigators from the attorney general’s office served a search warrant on Pittman’s fifth floor [...]

The post State Representative Faces Civil Lawsuit, AG’s Investigation Over Campaign Finances appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.