Some are calling the November 3 presidential race the important election in their lifetime.

Republican President Donald Trump, who pulled off a remarkable upset over Hillary Clinton in 2016, faces former Vice President Joe Biden.

Trump has championed conservative values while Biden has tried to court the far left wing of the Democrat Party while trying to convince most Democrats that he is a moderate.

But there are important races and issues that will be on the ballots in Tulsa County on November 3.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, who has represented the state for 26 years, faces Democrat newcomer Abby Broyles, an attorney and former TV news reporter. Inhofe is the chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee.

The only statewide office open is for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Commissioner Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, faces Libertarian Todd Hagopian. Hiett is a former Speaker of the Oklahoma House. After being term limited in the House, Hiett was elected to the Corporation Commission in 2014. Hagopian is a businessman.

In Tulsa’s First Congressional District, Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Oklahoma, faces Democrat challenger Kojo Asamoa-Caesar and Independent Evelyn L. Rogers. Hern is in his first term, having run for that seat after the departure of former Rep. Jim Bridenstine (now chief administrator for NASA). Kojo Asamoa-Caesar is a first-generation American whose parents came from Ghana. Rogers previously ran for Congress three times as a registered Republican.

In Tulsa County, there are three races for the Oklahoma Senate.

District 35 in South Tulsa is an open seat because Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, is term limited. Cheryl Baber won the GOP runoff and will face Democrat Jo Anna Dossett, who is related to Sen. J.J. Dossett, a Democrat from Owasso. Baber is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and Jo Anna Dossett is a public school teacher.

Sen. Allison Ikley-Freeman, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Cody Rogers in Senate District 37. Ikley-Freeman, who is married to another woman, was seriously injured in an auto accident May 22 on the Turner Turnpike. She is a mental health therapist and she won her seat in a special election in 2018 after former Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, retired.

Cody Rogers owns a construction business that he founded.

In Senate District 39, Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, faces Democrat Shawna Mott-Wright. Rader, a former star player for The University of Tulsa and a former TU football head coach, was first elected in 2016. Rader is on the board of John 3:16 Mission. Shawna Mott-Wright is the vice president (and president-elect) of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association. She is a former teacher.

Tulsa has races for the House of Representatives in Districts 11, 23, 29, 30, 66, 68, 71, 78 and 79.

In House District 11, Republican Wendi Stearman faces Democrat Emilie Tindle.

In House District 23, Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, is up against Democrat Susan Carle Young.

In House District 29,  Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Depew, faces Democrat Rick Parris.

Incumber Republican Mark Lawson of Sapulpa is being challenged by Democrat Chuck Threadgill in House District 30.

Incumbent Republican Jadine Nollan of Sand Springs faces Democrat Greg Laird in House District 66.

In House District 68, Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, is up against Democrat Michael Ross.

Incumbent Democrat Denise Brewer faces Republican Mike Masters in House District 71.

In House District 78, Republican Paul Royse is running against incumbent Democrat Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa.

In House District 79, Republican Margie Alfonso is challenging Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa.

In Tulsa County, Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith, a Democrat, faces Republican challenger Josh Turley.

Oklahoma voters can choose to retain or not retain judges for the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals.

Supreme Court Justices M. John Kane IV, Tom Colbert and Richard Darby are up for retention this year.

Justices Robert L. Hudson and Gary L. Lampkin are up for retention votes on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.

On Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, there will be retention votes on Judges Jane Wiseman, Keith Rapp and Deborah Barnes.

There are three races involving the Tulsa City Council on the November 3 ballot.

In District 5, Democrat Mykey Arthrell faces Councilor Cass Fahler, a Republican.

In District 6, Councilor Connie Dodson, a Democrat, is up against Republican Christian Bengel.

In District 7, Democrat Councilor Lori Decter Wright faces Republican challenger Justin Van Kirk.

Two state questions will be on the ballot statewide.

State Question No. 805, if passed would prevent a judge from using a person’s past non-violent felony convictions to hand down a stiffer sentence. It would open doors for prisoners who think their sentences were too harsh based on past convictions.

State Question No. 814 would drop the percentage of the money that is given to the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) from tobacco companies from 75% to 25% with the extra money being diverted to Oklahoma’s Medicaid funding.

Tulsa County Ballots

U.S. President

  • Republicans – Donald J. Trump and Michael R. Pence
  • Democrats – Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
  • Independent – Jade Simmons and Claudeliah Roze
  • Independent – Kanye West and Michelle Tidball
  • Independent – Brock Pierce and Karla Ballard

Oklahoma Corporation Commission

  • Republican Todd Hiett
  • Libertarian Todd Hagopian

U.S. Congress

U.S. Senator

  • Republican Jim Inhofe
  • Democrat Abby Broyles
  • Libertarian Robert Murphy
  • Independent Joan Farr
  • Independent A.D. Nesbit

U.S. House District 1

  • Republican Kevin Hern
  • Democrat Kojo Asamoa-Caesar
  • Independent Evelyn L. Rogers

State Questions

  • State Question No. 805
  • Initiative petition
  • State Question No. 814

Legislative

Tulsa City Council

District 5

  • Mykey Arthrell
  • Cass Fahler

District 6

  • Connie Dodson
  • Christian Bengel

District 7

  • Lori Decter Wright
  • Justin Van Kirk

Oklahoma Senate

Senate District 35

  • Republican Cheryl Baber
  • Democrat Jo Anna Dossett

Senate District 37

  • Republican Cody Rogers
  • Democrat Allison Ikley-Freeman

Senate District 39

  • Republican Dave Rader
  • Democrat Shawna Mott-Wright

Oklahoma House of Representatives

House District 11

  • Republican Wendi Stearman
  • Democrat Emilie Tindle

House District 23

  • Republican Terry O’Donnell
  • Democrat Susan Carle Young

House District 29

  • Republican Kyle Hilbert
  • Democrat Rick Parris

House District 30

  • Republican Mark Lawson
  • Democrat Chuck Threadgill

House District 66

  • Republican Jadine Nollan
  • Democrat Greg Laird

House District 68

  • Republican Lonnie Sims
  • Democrat Michael Ross

House District 71

  • Republican Mike Masters
  • Democrat Denise Brewer

House District 78

  • Republican Paul Royse
  • Democrat Meloyde Blancett

House District 79

  • Republican Margie Alfonso
  • Democrat Melissa Provenzano

Tulsa County Commissioner

  • Republican Josh Turley
  • Democrat Karen Keith

Judicial Retention

Oklahoma Supreme Court District 1

  • M. John Kane IV

Oklahoma Supreme Court District 6

  • Justice Tom Colbert

Oklahoma Supreme Court District  9

  • Richard Darby

Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals District 2

  • Robert L. Hudson

Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals District 3

  • Gary L. Lampkin

Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals District 1 – Office 2

  • Jane Wiseman

Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals District 2 – Office 1

  • Deborah Barnes

Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals District 2 – Office 2

  • Keith Rapp