On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, voters in Oklahoma will cast their ballots in local elections. In this voter guide, we’ll cover who’s on the ballot and what to expect in the mayoral and city council races in Tulsa, Lawton, and Shawnee.
We’ll also highlight which candidates for mayor and city council are GoodParty.org Certified, meaning they have pledged to run truly independent, people-powered, and anti-corruption campaigns.
What to Know About Oklahoma’s Local Elections
Before going into the details of local elections in Tulsa, Lawton, and Shawnee, here are some important points to keep in mind:
Not all cities in Oklahoma will hold local elections on August 27, 2024. Some cities in Oklahoma held their elections for mayor and city council earlier this year. Other cities plan to hold local elections next year. For example, Oklahoma City’s next city council elections are scheduled for February 11, 2025.
Run-off primary elections will also take place on August 27, 2024. Mayor and city council won’t be the only offices up for grabs on August 27. Voters will also have the chance to vote for partisan candidates for the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate, as well as candidates for county offices like sheriff and county commissioner.
City elections in Tulsa, Lawton, and Shawnee are run on a non-partisan basis. This means that candidates’ political parties will not appear next to their names on the ballot.
Visit your local government’s website for the latest information. Refer to your city’s website for the latest updates about who’s on your ballot, how to find your polling place, and how to prepare for election day.
City Elections in Tulsa, Oklahoma
On August 27, 2024, Tulsa voters will choose the city’s next mayor and city council cohort. All nine city council districts are electing city council members.
Tulsa was also scheduled to elect a city auditor on August 27. However, because there was only one candidate filed for this office, the general election was canceled. The sole candidate, Nathan Pickard, won the election without appearing on the ballot.
Tulsa’s Mayoral Election
The current mayor of Tulsa, G.T. Bynum, has not filed to run for reelection. This leaves the field wide open for new voices and fresh perspectives in Tulsa.
Seven candidates are currently on the ballot for the mayor’s office. Only one of those candidates, Paul Tay, ran for mayor during the last election in 2020.
Who’s on the Ballot for Mayor:
Casey Bradford
Kaleb Hoosier
John Jolley
Karen Keith
Monroe Nichols
Paul Tay
Brent VanNorman
Tulsa’s City Council Elections
Tulsa’s city council is made up of nine members, one for each city council district. Incumbent candidates are running for reelection in six of the nine districts.
Not sure which council district you live in? Find your district using this map.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 1:
Angela Chambers
Vanessa Hall-Harper
Vanessa Hall-Harper is an incumbent candidate who has served in office since 2016.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 2:
Anthony Archie (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Aaron Bisogno
W.R. Casey
Stephanie Reisdorph
Rhene Ritter (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
The current city council member for District 2, Jeannie Cue, is not running for reelection.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 3:
Jackie Dutton
Susan Frederick
The current city council member for District 3, Crista Patrick, has not filed for reelection.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 4:
Laura Bellis
Aaron Griffith
Laura Bellis is District 4’s incumbent city council member, and has represented the district since 2017.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 5:
Alicia Andrews (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Karen Gilbert
Grant Miller, the current city council member in District 5, is not running for reelection.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 6:
Christian Bengel
Uriah Davis (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Christian Bengel is running for reelection in District 6. He has served in office since 2022.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 7:
Lori Decter Wright
Margie Alfonso
Eddie Huff (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
The incumbent council member, Lori Decter Wright, has served on the council since 2018.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 8:
Chris Cone
Phil Lakin, Jr.
Phil Lakin, Jr. is an incumbent candidate who has represented District 8 since 2011.
Who’s on the Ballot in District 9:
Carol Bush
Lee Ann Crosby
Julie Dunbar
Jayme Fowler (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Matthew Nelson
GoodParty.org Certified candidate Jayme Fowler has represented District 9 since 2020.
City Elections in Lawton, Oklahoma
Located in Comanche County in southwest Oklahoma, Lawton will hold elections for the city’s mayor and two city council seats on August 27, 2024.
Lawton’s Mayoral Election
The current mayor of Lawton, Stan Booker, is running for reelection. Four other candidates, including two GoodParty.org Certified candidates, are competing as well, offering voters options beyond the status quo.
Who’s on the Ballot for Mayor:
Ronald W. Ballew
Stan Booker
Jacobi Crowley (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Cindy Edgar (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Matina Davis
Lawton’s City Council Elections
Lawton has eight city council wards, each with its own council member. This year, two of those wards are holding elections.
You can find a map of all eight wards here.
Who’s on the Ballot in Ward 1:
Mary Ann Hankins
Larry Walls
Mary Ann Hankins is an incumbent council member. She has represented Ward 1 since 2019.
Who’s on the Ballot in Ward 2:
Shelli Fox (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Justin Harrill (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
Jervis Jackson (GoodParty.org Certified candidate)
David Reeves
R.L. Smith
Kelly Harris is the current city council member representing Ward 2, and is not running for reelection.
City Elections in Shawnee, Oklahoma
The county seat of Pottawatomie County, Shawnee is a city to the east of Oklahoma City.
On June 18, 2024, Shawnee held a nonpartisan primary election for mayor and city commissioner. On August 27, Shawnee voters will return to the polls to vote in the city’s general election.
Shawnee’s Mayoral Election
Four mayoral candidates competed in the primary election on June 18. The following two candidates are advancing to the general election in August.
Who’s on the Ballot for Mayor:
Ed Bolt
Eric Stephens
Ed Bolt is the current mayor of Shawnee.
Shawnee’s City Commission Election
Shawnee has six city commission wards. This year, the seat of Shawnee’s Ward 2 Commissioner is up for election. Four candidates ran for office in the primary election. The leading two candidates are advancing to the August general election.
View a map of Shawnee’s six city commission wards here.
Who’s on the Ballot in Ward 2:
Sydnie Davidson
Greta Madson
The incumbent Ward 2 Commissioner, Cami Engles, is not running for reelection.
Get Involved in Oklahoma’s Local Elections
Want to get more involved in Oklahoma’s local elections and politics? Here are a few key strategies for success:
Get ready for election day. Visit the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website for information on registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot, finding your polling place, and more.
Volunteer. Consider volunteering as a poll worker, on behalf of a local campaign, or with a national organization like GoodParty.org. GoodParty.org offers ways for voters in Oklahoma and across the country to support independent and non-partisan candidates. Learn how you can get involved by booking an info session today.
Run for office. Are you a candidate running for local office in Oklahoma, or do you know someone who is? Get access to GoodParty.org’s free campaign tools and resources today. We offer tools including AI-powered campaign content generators, voter data, and SMS/MMS text messaging support.
Curious about how you can make an impact by running for office in Oklahoma? Check out this guide to running for office as an independent candidate in Oklahoma.
Photo by Daniel Santiago on Unsplash
