The 2024 primary election to be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 will be covering a multitude of federal, state, and county offices. If a runoff election is required it will be held on August 27th, and the general election, November 5th, will pit the Democrat and Republican candidates chosen in the primary elections.
The City of Tulsa elections are non-partisan and will be voted on August 27, if a run-off election is required for those offices it will be held on November 5, 2024 general election. The filing deadline for the City of Tulsa races end on June 12.
Due to the large number of races and candidates this coverage will be split between this issue and the June 13 issue. Last week the federal, statewide offices and state senator races will be covered. This week the Tulsa County races as well as the state house races will be reported on.
This election year there is only one race in the primary elections. The Tulsa County Court Clerk Don Newberry (Rep.) and Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado (Rep.) have both already won election to their seats as no one else filed for those races. Tulsa County Clerk Michael Willis (Rep) will not have a primary opponent but will have a Democrat opponent Don Naum in the general election in November. The only primary race is for County Commissioner in District #2. There are three candidates in each of the Republican and Democrat primaries for this open seat.
The three Republican candidates are Jeannie Cue, Melissa Myers and Lonnie Sims.
Cue, 70, has been a City Councilor of Tulsa since she was elected in 2012. She is a wife of 51 years to Thomas Cue. Together, they have raised three sons and are proud grandparents to five grandchildren. she grew up on the southwest side of Tulsa and attended Tulsa Public Schools before becoming a nurse. Her key issues are: 1) Preserve Public Safety: Throughout America, public safety is under assault. As a city council member, Cue will always back the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our community, 2) Protect the taxpayer: As a fiscal conservative, Cue will responsibly ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely and focus on the core functions of government. She will oppose new taxes and fees, and 3) Prioritize the core functions of government: Government should serve us, not the other way around. Cue will focus on the core function of government including better infrastructure and public safety and oppose growing government .She voted for mask mandates during the pandemic and also has supported the LGBTQ movement here in Tulsa.
Sims, 53, Jenks, has been an Oklahoma House Representative for House District 68 since 2018. He has also served six years as Planning Commissioner, eight years as City Councilman, two years as Mayor of Jenks. Sims currently serves on the Indian Nation Council of Governments (INCOG) Board of Directors, working to secure funding and grants for key infrastructure projects like the Gilcrease Expressway, as well as improving local economic development, healthcare, services for aging populations, and rural land use planning support. His website states “As a State Representative, Lonnie has been focused on hazard mitigation for our region. After years of work, the House of Representatives recently approved funding for major repairs to levees along the Arkansas River.” He Also voted against School Choice and originally and later supported it. Lonnie did not vote for bill protecting girls in the bathroom from boy transgenders.
Melissa Myers, 41, lives in Prattville, she is a graduate of Berryhill High School and lives in Prattville, OK with her husband Cody and two children, Hannah and Hunter. She and her husband own a lawn care and landscaping business. Myers is a part of the Leadership Sand Springs program and is an active member of the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce. Her key issues are: 1) Require transparency to the operations of the office of county commissioner and the budget board, 2) Guard taxpayer dollars against wasteful government spending, 3) Champion law enforcement and first responders to keep our communities safe, 4) Advocate for small business and pro-business policies and 5) Defend the 2nd Amendment and all Constitutional rights and freedoms.
In the Democrat primary for District 2 County Commissioner Maria Veliz Barnes, Sarah Elizabeth Gray and Jim Rea are running.
Barnes has served as a City Councilor for Tulsa District 4 from 2006-2011 and has volunteered for Kendall-Whittier neighborhood association for over 25 years.
Gray lives in Jenks, is a single mom with 2 sons, holds a B.A. in political science and a M.A. in strategic communications. She owns a small business, ST Comms Shop, a communications and PR business, that specializes in civic engagement, public and media relations and tribal affairs.
Born and raised in Tulsa County, Rea was a Naval Flight Officer and accumulated more than 3,000 hours in naval aircraft. After leaving active duty in 2002, pursued law, became an attorney, specializing in bankruptcy and litigation. Jim transitioned to Navy Reserve and retired in 2021 at the rank of Commander. Jim has served as Commissioner Karen Keith’s Chief Deputy, representing her and District 2 on a number of community boards, including the Metropolitan Environmental Trust.
The winner of the Republican and Democrat primary will face an Independent candidate in the November election.
In the Oklahoma State House all House Representatives are up for election or reelection every two years. Nine Districts will have no elections this year as Incumbents drew no opposition :
District #11, John B. Kane (R); District #24, Chris Banning (R); District #69, Mark Tedford (R); District #71, Amanda Swope (D); District #75, T.J. Marti (R); District #76, Ross Ford (R); District #77, John Waldron (R); District #78, Meloyde Blancett (D); and District #80, Stan May (R).
Four districts will hold no primary but have a general election in November: In District #16, Incumbent Scott Fetgatter (R) will face Rosie Lynch (D); In District #66, Incumbent Clay Staires (R) will face Libertarian Kenneth Blevins.; In District #70 Bradley Banks (R) will go up against Incumbent Democrat Suzanne Schreiber; and In District #74 Mark Vancuren (R) will face Independent Aaron Brent.
The remaining districts all have primary elections.
There are two Republicans who will only face primary opponents in District 70. The primary will decide the election for Derrick Hildebrant, 44, and Connor Whitham, 33.
Hildebrant states on his website, “I am a Christian, a veteran, and constitutional conservative who has dedicated my life to serving others. My twenty-five-year career in the National Guard as a Senior Enlisted Leader and my call to ministry as a Pastor and Missionary have given me the experience and the conviction to lead as your State Representative. Guided by faith, I will fight to protect the inalienable rights our Creator endowed you with of life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.” He has also served on the Catoosa City Council. His key issues are: Economic Development, Education and parental rights, Infrastructure, State Budget and Fiscal Responsibility, fight against Federal Overreach, Gold Star Families, promote Conservative Values, Pro-Life, 2nd Amendment Rights.
He has been married to his wife, Amber, for nearly twenty-two years and has seven children between the ages of 20 and 5.
Whitham is married and has a young son. His key issues are: 1) Fight for Our Children – as a teacher and coach who believes the Bible is the foundation of education. He knows how important it is to protect parent’s rights, and keep biological boys out of girls’ sports and locker rooms; 2) Lower Taxes & Reduce Government – he says he will cut taxes and reduce the cost of living for Oklahoma families. He believes in fostering economic growth by creating a business-friendly environment that encourages investment and job creation; and 3) Stand for Our Conservative Values – a constitutional conservative who will always defend the sanctity of life and the Second Amendment. He will stand with law-and-order to fight crime in our neighborhoods and fight back against the radical BLM movement.
In District #67 there are four Republicans in the primary race. The winner wins the seat as no opposition from the other parties filed. If a runoff is needed it will be held on August 27th.
The four Republican candidates are Kane Smith , 45; Ryan Myers, 52, Bowden McElroy, 63; and Rob Hall, 37.
Smith served in the Army as a Special Operations Combat Medic and had two tours in Operation Enduring Freedom /Operation Iraqi Freedom. After leaving the Army he became a defense contractor stationed in the Middle East.
Since returning home he has established several businesses. He is married and has a son. He has served on several charitable advisory boards.
His key issues are: 1) Protecting classrooms from woke indoctrination, 2) Defending the 2nd amendment and supporting pro-life, 3) Expanding economic opportunity, 4) Shrink government, 5) Supporting veterans and first responders, and 6) Empower parents and teacher’s in education.
Myers was born and raised on a Oklahoma farm and ranch. He has owned a small business for the past 16 years. He has been married for 29 years and has two adult children.
He says he will be a staunch advocate for conservative values, such as pro-life, parent’s rights and constitutional freedoms. He is a strong fiscal conservative and understands the need to support local businesses. He values public safety and has been a first-aid, serf-defense and firearms instructor for 20 years. He states on his website, “I’m pro-life, pro-family, pro-business and pro-constitutional freedom, and I want to take those values to the State Capitol and fight for positive change in our district and state.”
Bowden has been married to Sherri – a public school, second grade teacher – for forty-three years. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandsons, and three granddaughters. Sherri and Bowden live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bowden has served as a trustee for the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. He is a Past-President of the Tulsa Chapter of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. And, Bowden is a Past-President of the Oklahoma Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He wants to support Pro-Family, Faith, and Community, Pro-Life, Pro-Small Government, and Pro-Second Amendment legislation. His website states that he wants to run because, “Oklahoma is a great place to live; but there is still much to be done. I want my grandchildren to grow up in the kind of Oklahoma I did. Oklahoma’s future depends on leadership that can uplift, inspire, and deliver sound decision-making.”
Rob Hall graduated from the University of Tulsa with a mechanical engineering degree. he started his own business, is married and has three young children.
His key issues are – 1) Safeguarding Parents’ Rights in Healthcare and Education, 2) Upholding the Rule of Law, 3) Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration, 4) Promoting Economic Development and Job Creation, 5) Lowering Taxes by Cutting Spending and Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse, 6) Restoring Excellence and Trust in Public Education, 7) Ensuring Election Integrity and 8) Protecting Life, Gun, and Property Rights. He hopes to govern wisely, study constantly, live honorably, speak honestly and act courageously if elected.
District #72 has two Democrats in the primary that will determine the election as no opposing parties filed. Michelle McCane, 36 and Adam Martin, 28 will face off Tuesday.
McCane is a career teacher at TRAICE. She has endorsements from LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the OEA teacher’s union, the Tulsa Regional Chamber, and the Oklahoma AFL-CIO.
Martin is pro choice, believes LGBTQIA2S+ should be supported in education, communities and in the workplace. He wants to expand Medicare and supports a paid 6 week maternity leave. He wants to end charter schools, provide year-round free school meals, and guarantee tuition for two-year universities.
District #73 will see two Democrats face off in the primary to win the seat. Ron Stewart, 45, and Darrell Knox , 56, are the candidates running.
Stewart says on his website he “ is dedicated to working within government to help right the wrongs of the past and chart an equitable path for the future. He is ready to work and make government a place where everyone is included and no families are left behind. Ronald will stand up for you on day one.” He is a firefighter and has a bachelor and master’s degree from Langston University
Knox is concerned with three issues, education, the economy, and decriminalization of marijuana, and advocates convicted felons voting reforms. He owns a restaurant and is committed to local sourcing, waster reduction and energy efficiency.
In District 79 two Republicans will face each other in the primary and the winner will face Incumbent Democrat Melissa Provenzano in the general election in November.
Paul Hassink, 67 describes himself as a Common Sense Conservative. He earned a masters degree in electrical engineering from Purdue and has worked in the Utility industry for 40 years, he has been married for 40 years, has six children and 17 grandchildren.
Hassink’s plan for his work as a representative includes, supporting excellence in education, growing the economy, improving utilities & overall infrastructure, promoting government transparency and accountability, expanding business opportunities, defending all constitutional freedoms, championing public safety & 2nd Amendment rights, fighting back against federal overreach, and demanding election integrity.
Jenifer Stevens, 48, wants to stop soft-on-crime policies, support small businesses, stop retail crime, rectify the critical teacher shortage, prepare students for working, stop the ability of schools to self-police and not file police reports, help veterans get access to help they need, and protect our personal freedoms. She has been very active in volunteer positions in the Republican party, and in various Jenks boards and committees, as well as an advocate for patients in the health care system. She is a wife, a mother of five children and grandmother of ten.