This is the first of three articles looking at Tulsa-area State House races on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Ten candidates in five Tulsa-area State House districts are headed to the Nov. 3 general election after most did not face party primary opponents in June. The races in House Districts 23, 30, 66, 68 and 72 include four Republican incumbents, one Democratic incumbent and challengers from the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties.

Oklahoma House District 23

District 23 includes portions of Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties, including Catoosa, Claremore, Fair Oaks, Tulsa and Verdigris.

Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, is pitted against Democrat Catherine Peters of Tulsa.

Hildebrant, the incumbent, was first elected to the House in 2024 after previously serving on the Catoosa City Council.

He served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard for 25 years and retired in 2024. Hildebrant reached the rank of chief master sergeant and served as senior enlisted leader for the 138th Mission Support Group.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and graduate degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, including a doctorate in Christian preaching, and began his pastoral ministry in 2014 and has served churches in Rogers and Tulsa counties.

In the Oklahoma House Hildebrant focused on tax policy, infrastructure and strengthening families. He serves as vice chairman of the House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

He earned a 90 percent score on the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper’s 2026 Conservative Index, placing him among its highest-rated House members.

Peters, of Tulsa, is the Democratic candidate. She did not face an opponent for the Democratic nomination. She has been endorsed by Sally’s List, an Oklahoma organization that supports progressive women running for office.

Additional biographical and occupational information for Peters was not available from a campaign website or other verifiable candidate source.

Oklahoma House District 30

House Majority Leader Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, is being challenged by Democrat Sonya Amling of Sapulpa.

Lawson, the incumbent, has represented District 30 since 2016 and currently serves as majority leader of the Oklahoma House.

Before entering the Legislature, Lawson worked with Youth Services of Tulsa’s Safe Place program and Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis. He also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children and chaired the board of Youth Services of Creek County.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in health education from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma.

During his time in the House, Lawson has worked on issues involving children and families and Oklahoma tourism. He authored legislation establishing the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission ahead of the highway’s centennial in 2026. As majority leader, Lawson works to advance the policies of the House Republican Caucus and grow Oklahoma’s economy.

Amling did not face an opponent for the Democratic nomination. Additional biographical, occupational and campaign-platform information was not available from a verifiable campaign source.

District 30 includes portions of Creek and Tulsa counties, including Glenpool, Kiefer, Oakhurst, Sand Springs, Sapulpa and Tulsa.

House District 66

Republican incumbent Clay Staires, R-Skiatook, faces Libertarian Kenny Blevins of Sand Springs. Democrat Alex Barclay originally filed for the seat but withdrew from the general election Aug. 28.

Staires, who was born in 1964, was first elected to the House in 2022. He graduated from Skiatook High School and earned a degree in education from the University of Oklahoma.

He began his career teaching biology and coaching track and football at Tulsa Memorial High School. Staires later returned to the Skiatook area to help operate his family ministry, Shepherd’s Fold Ranch.

In 2012, he started The Leadership Initiative, which works with small-business owners as their companies grow.

Staires serves on House committees dealing with elections and ethics, appropriations, transportation and administrative rules.

Blevins is chairman of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma. A Tulsa native who lives in Sand Springs, he has worked as a welder and pipefitter. He attended Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State University, where he studied athletic training.

Blevins has emphasized individual liberty and limiting government involvement in personal and financial decisions. He supports “Defend the Guard” legislation that would restrict deployment of the Oklahoma National Guard into foreign conflicts without a congressional declaration of war.

District 66 includes portions of Osage and Tulsa counties, including Sand Springs, Skiatook, Sperry and Tulsa.

House District 68

Rep. Mike Lay, R-Jenks, will face Democrat Michelle LaFleur of Jenks in the Nov. 3rd general election.

Incumbent Lay was elected to the House in 2024. A lifelong Tulsan, he is a businessman and ordained minister and was a founding member of Victory Church.

Lay founded an industrial sales company that started with three employees and has grown to more than 150 employees. His House biography notes more than 45 years of industry experience.

He serves in the Oklahoma House as vice chairman of the House Business Committee and also on committees dealing with finance, utilities and economic development.

Lay was awarded an 80 percent score on the Oklahoma Constitution newspaper’s 2026 Conservative Index, placing him among its highest-rated House members.

LaFleur works in land management after previously working as a landman in the oil and gas industry. She earned a degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa and has lived in District 68 for about 15 years.

Her campaign has emphasized improving education and focusing state spending and legislative work on outcomes for Oklahoma residents.

LaFleur did not face an opponent for the Democratic nomination.

District 68 includes portions of Creek and Tulsa counties, including Glenpool, Jenks, Sapulpa and Tulsa.

House District 72

Rep. Michelle McCane, 38, D-Tulsa, faces Republican Adam Martin of Tulsa.

Incumbent McCane was elected to the House in 2024. A Tulsa native, she began working for Tulsa Public Schools in 2010 and has served as a teacher assistant, English teacher and library media specialist.

She earned an associate degree from Tulsa Community College and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northeastern State University. McCane has also held leadership roles with the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association.

Martin is a lifelong Oklahoman, small-business owner and workforce specialist. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Oklahoma State University in 2020.

Martin founded AdamEssieGroup LLC, a real estate investment company, and Crystal Jet Cleaning Company. He also works as a workforce specialist and community liaison at the Tulsa Job Corps Center.

Martin describes himself as a conservative. His campaign priorities include lowering taxes, reducing regulations on small businesses, improving education, supporting and retaining teachers and investing in infrastructure. He is also calling for stronger protections against foreign ownership of Oklahoma land and says District 72 needs more active representation at the Capitol.

District 72 includes portions of Tulsa, Owasso and Turley.