2020 Oklahoma Candidate Filings

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Greg Piatt | OEPA Lobbyist

Fewer candidates filed this cycle

The number of candidates running this year is far fewer than the record-breaking number who filed in 2018.

A huge number of open seats in the Legislature and few incumbents in the statewide races allowed a flood of candidates to file for elected office in 2018. Dissatisfaction with how the state government was being run also factored into an unprecedented 794 candidates declaring for state and federal offices.

In 2018, the filing period coincided with a massive teacher walkout.

This year, 300 state and federal candidates filed to run for elected offices, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. In 2018, 791 candidates sought elected office. In 206, 417 candidates filed.

One-third of state legislators are re-elected

With 126 legislative seats up this year, 46 incumbents were reelected by default Friday when they didn’t draw an opponent.

Eight senators and 38 House legislators face no opponents:

  • Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow
  • Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville
  • Sen. Chris Kidd, R-Ringling
  • Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa
  • Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt
  • Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Broken Arrow
  • Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle
  • Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond
  • Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon
  • Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City
  • Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa
  • Rep. Ty Burns, R-Morrison
  • Rep. Trey Caldwell R-Lawton
  • Rep. Rusty Cornwell R-Vinita
  • Rep. Denise Crosswhite-Hader, R-Yukon
  • Rep. Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow
  • Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee
  • Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow
  • Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee
  • Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola
  • Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa
  • Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell
  • Rep. Tommy Hardin R-Madill
  • Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang
  • Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane
  • Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore
  • House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka
  • Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Tulsa
  • Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond
  • Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow
  • Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan
  • Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore
  • Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee
  • Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland
  • Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando
  • Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy
  • Rep. Dustin Roberts, R-Mead
  • Rep. Judd Strom, R-Copan
  • Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh
  • Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore
  • Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman
  • Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa
  • Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston
  • Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore
  • Rep. Tammy West, R-OKC
  • Rep. Josh West, R-Grove

Newcomer Steve Bashore, a Republican, was the lone candidate to file for House District 7, which is being vacated by Rep. Ben Loring, D-Miami.

Get out while you can

Five legislators are not seeking re-election because of term limits. Legislators are allowed to serve for up to 12 years.

The lawmakers who are term-limited are:

  • Rep. Lewis Moore, R-Arcadia
  • Rep. Charles Ortega, R-Altus
  • Rep. Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher
  • Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford
  • Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa