Analysis: The primary campaigns this election cycle end Tuesday August 25. For those looking for more information, here is a collection of notes and quotes from the campaign trail with links for more detail.
Republican Candidates for Governor
Gentner Drummond was covered here February 16. Drummond spoke in Tulsa about tribal relations, drug grows, school audits, and accountability. He proudly claimed to provide, as owner of Blue Sky Bank, services to the marijuana cultivation industry in Oklahoma and, as Oklahoma’s Attorney General, also conduct raids on the same industry. As AG he has been frequently reported here, including in May of 2025 as be battled Governor Kevin Stitt, click here for that story. Readers may use our search feature to find more coverage of the Attorney General’s Office in Drummond’s care.
Drummond tends to pander to every group he addresses and repeatedly demonstrates duplicity. He called “some” Republicans fascists. Recently registered as a Republican, his family has donated frequently to Democrats from his wealth.
Mike Mazzei as one pundit puts it, “excels with budgets and finances. A needed asset for this position.” He admits he is a bit of a nerd on that topic. He is not a stem-winding blowhard but answers all questions directly, with specific details, and may be the most down-to-earth approachable politician this reporter has ever met. A recent event hosted by the Republican Women’s Club of South Tulsa was covered here.
Mazzei’s plans for Oklahoma are solid and address critical issues like improving education and eliminating property taxes for seniors and vets.
Mazzei has been slandered by Drummond in so many ways, it is hard to total. President Donald J. Trump has endorsed him (click here for that story) which may make the DTS suffering Drummond upset.
Awake Oklahoma recently wrote, “those who are saying the aluminum plant is the ‘Mazzei Smelter’ continue to expose their unwillingness to speak truth. The proposed aluminum plant is NOT Mazzei’s idea or plan. The Oklahoma legislature introduced it, Drummond endorsed it, and Gov Stitt worked the deal.” It will also provide significant employment in the Tulsa metro area.
Mazzei has produced, for years, a “Mazzei Minute” broadcast message on Oklahoma public policy issues that has been frequently carried on Tulsa Today, readers may use our site search feature (upper right hand corner of every page) to find those stories. This writer interviewed Mazzei on the YouTube Channel, Straight Up Dave, June 4th and that interview is also available online here.
Republican Candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Robert Franklin became a Republican in 2023. He agreed to a podcast interview with this writer (long a vocal conservative) available online here and he acknowledges he is a defender of the system. Franklin is polished, reasoned and articulate, but he defends a state education industrial complex judged to be the worst educational system of all the 50 states. At least he didn’t call anyone a “fascist.”
However, his educational record was covered by Oklahoma writer Deborah Campbell and she raises serious questions in a story titled “How Hisson’s Teachers Escaped” click here for that story.
Dr. James Taylor has been slandered even more than Mike Mazzei – they attack him for being a “White Christian Nationalist” which is hilarious at first sight. Apparently, the state education industrial complex hates Christians, accountability, and transparency – if not simple decency.
Dr. Taylor spoke to the Tulsa County Republican Men’s Club (TCRMC) and this writer covered that speech, click here for that story. Dr. Taylor also agreed to a podcast discussion and that conversation is available online here.
Republican Candidates for Insurance Commissioner
Bob Sullivan is charming and knowledgeable and our podcast interview is available online at this link. However, his campaign is disingenuous. (Funny how that seems to be getting more common as broadcast allows obvious AI falsehoods.) Sullivan has attended many functions in Tulsa and seems to be working hard in personal campaigning, but the attack is vile.
Marty Quinn served Oklahoma for 12 years as a State Legislator and has been in the insurance business for 40 years. Quinn declares. “I’m running to put Oklahoma consumers first, open up the corporate books [that] justify rate increases and require full transparency from all insurance companies.”
His plans for the office include supporting passage of Homeowners’ Claims Bill of Rights (HB2933) to ensure claims are handled fairly and promptly. Quinn wants to implement tax-advantaged disaster savings accounts (DSAs), insist on transparency and collaboration with insurance companies, promote state legal reform for consumers, and modernize the insurance department.
In the spirit of full disclosure, Quinn is being attacked for a brief (two year) stay in Arkansas to be with family at their end of life. This writer dealt with a similar issue that cost six years of litigation and six days of jury trial to defend my mother against abuse and embezzlement from evil masquerading as Christian. It is not easy to help at the end of life and the Quinn family should be respected for their effort.
This writer covered a presentation by Quinn in August of 2025 available on Substack here. He also joined the podcast July 16, 2026 available here.
Republican Candidates for Labor Commissioner
John Pfeiffer has not attended any function in Tulsa, that our reporters have attended. His donors are a serious concern. Most of them are energy companies, water companies, and attorneys. Tulsa Today is not on his media email list and we wouldn’t know him from a pig in a blanket.
Kevin West is a working legislator who fights for Oklahoma citizens. His podcast interview with this writer was fun and is available online here.
Awake Oklahoma notes in part, “[West] and Rep Tom Gann filed a brief asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to overturn $98 million in rate increases for Oklahoma Natural Gas (ONG) well as $1.77 billion of the utility’s ratepayer-backed bonds approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC).
“Gann and West’s brief claimed the OCC failed to perform lawful audits of ONG’s bonds in every rate case since the bonds were issued.
“Additionally, in December 2025, West asked the court to overturn a $127 million rate increase and $760 million in winter storm bonds for customers of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E). Now THAT is the kind of action we want to see from our representatives who are standing up for us,” Awake Oklahoma added.
State Questions
OK SQ 844 Requires the Legislature to set a reimbursement rate for local governments and districts that lose revenue due to Oklahoma’s property tax exemption for manufacturing facilities.
This is a blank check for the Oklahoma Legislature to add taxes and deny responsibility.
OK SQ 846 Would add an amendment to the state constitution that voters must present identification when voting. DANGER: wording is very vague and fails to specify what proof or ID will be required.
Again, a blank check to allow the OK Legislature authority to specify what proof would be required. Why not vote on the question for photo ID? This would enshrine Constitutional Authority without specifics or limits.