Oklahoma Voters Head to the Polls for Key Races and Local Decisions
Voters in 25 Oklahoma counties will head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in several races.
The race is on to replace former Republican Senator Roger Thompson.
Republican voters in Thompson’s Senate District 8 will select a candidate to move on to the general election. Six candidates will appear on the ballot, though diesel engine repair shop owner Ed Jolly announced that he has dropped out of the race.
The seat has been vacant since Thompson left office in the summer. If necessary, a runoff primary will be held on April 1.
Voters in the Moore Norman Technology Center district will decide on a $90 million bond for new facilities and updates to existing buildings. The center aims to increase its enrollment capacity. This past year, officials say they had to turn away a quarter of qualified applicants because of insufficient space.
Other races include school bonds and local questions.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your polling location and view a full list of elections, visit the Oklahoma State Election Board website.
Oklahoma AG Fires Back at Walters Over Trump Executive Order Request
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is firing back against State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ request for an opinion on a Trump executive order. Drummond calls the request “manufactured political drama.”
In February, Walters requested an opinion from Drummond on whether an order from Trump banning federal money from going to undocumented people would apply to undocumented students receiving benefits like free and reduced lunches or Title I funding.
Monday afternoon, Drummond responded, praising Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and lambasting Governor Kevin Stitt’s handling of immigration issues. Drummond says the order addresses heads of federal agencies, not state agencies. However the federal agencies decide to implement the order, the state department should cooperate.
Drummond says in the meantime, Walters should focus on improving students’ test scores.
Northeast Oklahoma butterfly farm sees federal funds frozen
A Northeast Oklahoma butterfly farm focused on native plants and serving Indigenous communities is another in a long list of institutions impacted by massive federal funding freezes.
Federal funding for the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators is frozen through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The non-profit assists mostly Indigenous producers and people interested in restoring native plants to improve pollinator and soil health, and to support ecosystems.
Jane Breckinridge, director of the Euchee Butterfly Farm and co-director of the alliance, says there are strict rules on how funds are used.
“So it's not like anybody's playing fast and lose with this money. And this money is going out doing things that benefit actually, truthfully, all Oklahomans and so it feels perplexing about why those funds would be frozen," Breckinridge said.
In a statement, a USDA spokesperson says the department is reviewing projects to ensure they align with President Trump’s directives. They are focused on serving producers and rural spaces and not “far-left climate projects or DEIA initiatives.”
Breckinridge says her organization serves thousands of people annually.
Oklahoma Offers Grants to Help Homeowners Strengthen Homes Against Storms
The Oklahoma Insurance Department is offering grants to help homeowners strengthen their property against severe storms.
The application portal for the O-K-Ready program opened Monday for eight zip codes, mainly in central Oklahoma.
Approved households can receive up to $10-thousand dollars for construction projects to protect homes from potential wind and hail damage.
The department plans to expand eligibility to more areas throughout the year.
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