IMPORTANT CURRENT ISSUES

SQ 836 – JUNGLE PRIMARIES

Petitions are now being circulated for Oklahomans to sign a petition to allow State Question 836 to be added to the November 2026 ballot. This petition is trying to get Oklahoma elections to become what is known as “Jungle Primaries” and becomes a free-for-all contest removing the integrity and selection process of both primary parties.

Our current system allows for a Republican primary and a Democrat primary. Only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. Democrats and Independents can vote in the Democrat primary. It is in the primary elections in which both parties vote to choose who will be their candidate who will advance to the general election—along with any independent who may have filed.

If the Jungle Primary (SQ 836) is adopted our elections will completely change as Republicans, Democrat and Independent candidate’s names will all be thrown on a ballot and anyone can vote for any candidate. The top two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election. This process potentially disenfranchises voters from both parties such as what took place in Tulsa County in 2024 mayoral race. In that general election there were two Democrat candidates and no Republican for Republican voters to choose.

SQ 836 allows for the same voting system currently used in California and Washington. What do proponents for SQ 836 say? Click here.

Data Centers

Data Centers are popping up all over our nation. Governor Stitt announced on social media that he is fully behind the solar & wind farms and data centers. It seems that Oklahoma has a favorable climate for the centers, much like the low fees for marijuana grow farms that then covered our state.

Oklahoma currently has around 35 facilities with more under construction. We are told that data centers provide jobs and tremendous tax revenue for our state and the city/county in which they are built. But do they? Current data shows that at least ten states are missing $100 million in tax revenue annually and electricity rates jump anywhere from 8-26% for residents. Are they really producing jobs and revenue? State governments, including Oklahoma, are giving out large subsidies and tax abatements, with no guarantee of benefit. It is out of control.

“Subsidy programs in Texas, which exempts data centers from paying sales and use taxes including on the costs to power data centers, cost the state more than $1 billion in 2025, according to the state Comptroller’s Office.” Oklahoma is offering deals as well—but is the benefit worth the missed revenue and expense to the taxpayer?