Tulsa city voters will decide nine council races on August 23.

If a candidate doesn’t get over 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the November 8 general election.

City officials scheduled this election on August 23 in hopes of a traditionally light turnout, which favors incumbents.

There are also three propositions for changes to the City Charter on the August 23 ballot.

Here are our choices for the nine district races.

District 1

  • David Harris

District 2

  • Councilor Jeannie Cue

District 3

  • Libertarian Daniel Joseph Groves

District 4

  • Republican Michael Feamster

District 5

  • Ty Walker, Republican

District 6

  • Christian Bengel, Republican

District 7

  • Republican Jerry Griffin

District 8

  • Republican Scott Houston

District 9

  • Incumbent City Councilor Jayme Fowler, a Republican

Here are our recommendations for the proposed amendments to the Tulsa City Charter will be on the August 23 ballot.

Yes – Proposed City Charter Amendment No. 1

Mayor’s Salary

This amendment is a housekeeping measure. In 2001, the Mayor’s salary was set by ordinance at $105,000, but our Charter has language dating back to 1990 that still refers to the first Mayor’s annual salary of $70,000. This amendment removes this outdated and conflicting reference to the first Mayor’s salary being $70,000. If this amendment is approved, it will not change the Mayor’s salary.

No – Proposed City Charter Amendment No. 2

Residency Requirement for Candidates, 365 Days

Currently our Charter provides that the Mayor and City Auditor must be Tulsa residents at the time they announce that they are running for office, but it does not require residency for any specific length of time. A candidate for City Council must be a resident in the district in which they are running for at least 90 days. This amendment would add a 365-day City of Tulsa residency requirement to run for Mayor or City Auditor and increase a Council candidates Council district residency requirement from 90 days to 365 days.

Yes – Proposed City Charter Amendment No. 3

City Auditor 4-Year Term

The City Auditor is elected city-wide and currently serves a 2-year term of office, the same as City Councilors. The Mayor is the only other office holder elected city-wide and serves a 4-year term. This Charter amendment would change the City Auditor’s term in office to 4 years beginning in December 2026 and would stagger the Auditor’s term so that the Mayor’s and Auditor’s elections and terms are offset by 2 years.

The Republican runoff for U.S. Senate is between U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin and former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon on August 23. The GOP runoff for an open seat on the Tulsa County Commission is between former Tulsa County Republican Chairman Bob Jack and Kelly Dunkerly.  Also on the ballot are Republican runoffs for State School Superintendent, State Treasurer, Labor Commissioner, Second District U.S. Congress, and a Democrat runoff for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma.

Here are the Tulsa Beacon recommendations for those races:

Republicans

U.S. Senator

  • The Tulsa Beacon endorses former House Speaker T.W. Shannon.

State Treasurer

  • The Tulsa Beacon endorses Todd Russ.

State School Superintendent

  • Ryan Walters is a genuine conservative and that’s what public education needs. The Tulsa Beacon endorses Ryan Walters.

Labor Commissioner

  • Leslie Osborn is not a conservative.  State Rep. Sean Roberts is very conservative and will work hard for Oklahoma. The Tulsa Beacon endorses Sean Roberts for Labor Commissioner.

Corporation Commissioner

  • Sen. Kim David has been part of the GOP leadership that has been blocking Gov. Kevin Stitt. The Tulsa Beacon endorses Todd Thomsen.

State Senate District 5

  • The Tulsa Beacon endorses Jarrin Jackson.

U.S. House District 2

  • Josh Breckeen and Avery Frix are conservative but Brecken, who has been endorsed by Jim Bridenstine, gets the nod.

The Tulsa Beacon endorses Josh Breckeen.

State House District 66

  • This is an open seat with Gabe Renfrow facing fellow Republican Clay Staires.
  • No recommendation.

Tulsa County Commissioner District 3

  • The advisors to Kelly Dunklerly’s campaign will do anything to win. Bob Jack has run a clean campaign and should win based on his ethics and experience. The Tulsa Beacon endorses Bob Jack for Tulsa County Commissioner

Osage County Commissioner

  • Republican Dr. Everett Piper

Democrats

U.S. Senator (Inhofe seat)

  • Madison Horn is facing Jason Bollinger.
  • No recommendation.