This election season, about 40 educators—administrators and teachers—decided to run for public office in Oklahoma. This is a record number of educators to run at once in the state, and most are running on a platform of improving public education.
Many have said they were motivated by struggles public schools are currently facing—mainly a lack of funding, low teacher pay, and teacher shortages. Others said they wanted to help influence education legislation before it hits teachers’ desks.
There are many “pro-education” candidates out there, but this is a list of people that currently, or formerly worked in public schools and are running for office.
22 of the candidates won in the primary, or ran unopposed. They will advance to the general election on November 8.
Five candidates must run again in the run-off primary election on August 23. Two candidates from House district 60 will meet in a run-off against each other, and two candidates from Senate district 31 will compete in a run-off.
10 candidates did not win, and will not advance.