Keaton Ross’ Democracy Watch is a weekly newsletter that contains his observations of the democracy beat. Although it may not receive a deep dive investigation, it is still important information for our readers.
archive: Democracy Watch
Five Political Storylines to Follow in 2025
Happy New Year! From far-reaching policy decisions to hotly contested elections, there promises to be no shortage of Oklahoma news to follow in…
Political Parties Opt to Close Upcoming Primaries
For the first time in a decade, registered independents will be barred from voting in all partisan primaries for the next two years. …
Oklahoma Sends National Guard Members to D.C.
More than 160 members of the Oklahoma National Guard deployed to Washington, D.C., last week, just months after Gov. Kevin Stitt indicated his…
Former, Current Legislators File Initiative to Eliminate Property Taxes
One former and two current state lawmakers are leading an effort to gradually reduce residential property taxes to zero by the end of…
Boards Hike Pay for Statewide Elected Officials, Legislators
Pay raises are on the horizon for a slew of Oklahoma elected officials. The Statewide Official Compensation Board voted Nov. 18 to increase…
Oklahoma Supreme Court Will Weigh Initiative Petition Bill
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1027, the legislation that added geographic restrictions and other…
Clemency Recommendation Rests With Stitt
Gov. Kevin Stitt has until Thursday morning to decide whether to spare Tremane Wood’s life. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2…
State Question 836 Campaign Begins Gathering Signatures
Proponents of State Question 836 launched their signature gathering effort on Wednesday, with hopes of qualifying for the ballot in 2026. Supporters of…
Hundreds of New Laws Take Effect Nov. 1
The 2025 legislative session has been in the history books for months, but Oklahomans haven’t felt its true impact yet. The default date…
State Representative Faces Civil Lawsuit, AG’s Investigation Over Campaign Finances
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…
Dark Money Interim Study Set for Monday
Dark money spending in Oklahoma elections has steadily increased over the past decade, with no end in sight for the upcoming 2026 election…
Another Republican Enter Governor’s Race
The field of candidates vying to become Oklahoma’s Republican nominee for governor in 2026 continues to grow. Chip Keating, a former Oklahoma Highway…
Revamped Campaign Finance Filing System to Launch This Week
A long-awaited update to Oklahoma’s campaign finance filing software is set to go live this week. The Guardian 2.0 system will launch by…
Petitioners File Ballot Initiatives to Create Tulsa Race Massacre Holiday, Overhaul Legislative Process
Oklahoma voters have filed two initiative petitions thus far in September, one to create a state holiday honoring Tulsa Race Massacre victims and…
What Happened Next: Updates on Oklahoma Watch Investigations
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety agreed to return $62,000 to two brothers from Illinois one month after Oklahoma Watch reported on the…
Department of Corrections Director Announces Resignation
Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe, one of the highest paid officials in state government, will step down on Sept. 30 to…
Democracy Watch: Republicans Continue Voter Registration Gains
Reliably Republican Oklahoma is getting even redder. Registered Republicans made up 53.4% of voters statewide on July 31, according to the Oklahoma State…
State Question 781 Participation Grows
Statewide participation in a county-level mental health and substance abuse program is growing, but more than 40% of counties still haven’t applied for…
Ethics Commission Issues Draft Guidance on Officeholder Security Expenses
Oklahoma lawmakers should be allowed to use campaign funds to cover reasonable home and digital security costs, according to a draft opinion from…
Recreational Marijuana Signature Collection Begins Wednesday
Petitioners looking to get a recreational marijuana question on the ballot in Oklahoma could soon be coming to a shopping center, park or…
Oklahoma Completes Takeover of Lawton Prison
For the first time since the mid-1990s, Oklahoma is out of the private prison business. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections took control of…
Lawmakers Submit More than 200 Interim Study Requests
Oklahoma lawmakers are preparing to host more than 200 interim studies at the Capitol this fall. Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, approved…
IRS Rule Change Clears Way for Pulpit Endorsements
Church and state in deeply religious Oklahoma have long been interconnected. The Legislature starts each day of session with a Christian prayer and…
Protest Period for Recreational Marijuana Question Ends Today
Backers of an initiative petition to legalize recreational marijuana in Oklahoma could clear a key hurdle this week. Today, Monday, July 7, is…
Oklahoma Lobbyists Spent Big During the 2025 Legislative Session
Oklahoma lobbyists spent more than $220,000 on food and beverages for lawmakers during the 2025 legislative session. The $222,300 in spending, reported from…