How To Use This Guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Rank the two or three that matter most to you, such as health care, gas and diesel prices, taxes or data centers.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House and U.S. Senate write federal law and set the federal budget, including Medicaid and Medicare funding, and the Senate also confirms federal judges and approves treaties. The two statewide questions would change the Oklahoma Constitution on how judicial candidates are screened and how fast property values can rise for tax purposes.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then read the candidates’ own words and who funds each campaign.

The U.S. House Race

What This Office Does

U.S. House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. All bills that raise taxes must start in the House. The 5th District is centered on Oklahoma City. The 2021 redistricting dropped a western portion of the city and added Republican-leaning areas of Canadian, Logan and Lincoln counties, according to NonDoc’s race report. ​

The district uses the same lines as in 2022 and 2024, under the congressional map Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, according to Ballotpedia’s Oklahoma redistricting page. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rate the race Solid Republican, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates it Safe Republican, according to Ballotpedia’s race overview.

Candidates In Brief

Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) is seeking a fourth term. Bice served in the Oklahoma Senate from 2014 to 2020 and worked as a vice president of business development at a digital marketing company, according to Bice’s Ballotpedia profile. Bice won the seat in 2020 by defeating Rep. Kendra Horn (D) and won reelection in 2024 with 60.7% of the vote. Bice advanced without a primary vote this year.

Democrat Jena Nelson is a former middle and high school teacher and small business owner who most recently led programs at the Oklahoma Faith Network, according to Nelson’s Ballotpedia profile. Nelson lost the 2022 race for state superintendent of public instruction to Ryan Walters (R), 56.8% to 43.2%. Nelson won the Tuesday, June 16 Democratic primary for this seat with 56.7% of the vote over Trey Martin.

Independent Robert P. Henri founded Project Due Course, which promotes 18 government accountability reforms, according to Henri’s Ballotpedia profile. Independent Austin Nieves has no campaign website and has posted in favor of a universal basic income, according to NonDoc.

Where They Stand

Health care. Nelson’s top priority is restoring the health care funding cut by the 2025 tax and spending law “so that we can get more help in our healthcare and that people don’t lose Medicaid.” Nelson supports a single-payer “Medicare for all” system. Bice blames the Affordable Care Act for rising costs and says “Something has to give because this is not sustainable the way that it’s currently being laid out.” Bice also wants to reform the rules for pharmacy benefit managers.

Taxes and the economy. Bice points to the “working families tax cut” and says the country needs to rebuild diesel refining capacity. Bice wants Congress to consider raising the cap on wages subject to Social Security taxes. Nelson would pay for restoring health funding by rolling back “the tax cuts for the top 1 percent,” and wants farm subsidies restored and a moratorium on data centers.

Ethics. Bice says Bice and Bice’s husband sold every individual stock they owned after Bice was elected, and that “Members of Congress should not benefit from the information they receive.” Henri says “Congress still trades stocks on information you’ll never see.”

In Their Own Words

Stephanie Bice, at a campaign stop on Thursday, Oct. 22:

“This is a job of service. Is it hard? Yes.”

Jena Nelson, after a rally on Monday, Oct. 26:

“I’ve done 16 in-person town halls, and I’m asked constantly about policy questions.”

Robert P. Henri, on Henri’s campaign website:

“I’m running for Congress to make the people who serve the public answer to the public.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Bice declined proposals for a debate with Nelson and the independent candidates, citing Nelson’s late filing of a federal financial disclosure report, according to NonDoc. Nelson and Henri completed Ballotpedia’s 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Bice and Nieves did not.

Endorsements

Before the primary, President Donald Trump endorsed Bice for reelection, according to the Washington Examiner’s endorsement tracker. AllCiv’s endorsement data also lists Maggie’s List among Bice’s backers. The National Women’s Political Caucus lists Nelson among its endorsed candidates.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures come from Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports for the 2026 cycle through Wednesday, Oct. 14, as compiled by Ballotpedia:

  • Bice reported raising $2,476,529 and spending $2,438,488, with $1,123,989 on hand.
  • Nelson reported raising $821,989 and spending $713,446, with $108,543 on hand.
  • Henri reported raising $6,361.
  • Nieves has not reported any fundraising.

AllCiv’s Oklahoma 5th District race page shows $394,000 in outside spending in the race. Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings, while smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total.

The Incumbent’s Record

Bice serves on the Appropriations and House Administration committees and chairs the House Administration Committee’s Modernization and Innovation Subcommittee, according to Ballotpedia. This Congress, Bice has voted in 638 of 645 roll call votes and voted against most Republicans 12 times out of 601, according to AllCiv’s vote data. Bice has cosponsored 217 bills, and the 31 bills Bice sponsored drew 193 cosponsors.

Bice voted for the 2025 tax and spending law, which passed the House 218 to 214 on Thursday, July 3, 2025, according to the House clerk’s roll call and the bill’s Congress.gov record. A Bice ad says Nelson supports “Higher taxes on Social Security benefits” and “Higher taxes on tips and overtime.” Nelson says “the accusation that I’m against (eliminating the) tax on tips is absolutely not true” and that the tips break should be in a standalone bill.

A PAC supporting Nelson says Bice “refused to support the release of the Epstein files.” Bice did not sign the discharge petition to force a vote on the files, but voted for the release bill, which passed the House 427 to 1. Bice says Bice withheld support from the petition because the bill did not require redacting victims’ identifying information, according to NonDoc.

Challengers’ Records

Nelson has not held public office. Henri and Nieves have not held public office.

The U.S. Senate Race

What This Office Does

U.S. senators serve six-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The Senate also confirms presidential nominees, including federal judges and Cabinet members, and approves treaties.

This seat opened when former Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R) resigned in March to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Stitt appointed energy executive Sen. Alan Armstrong (R-OK) on Tuesday, March 24, and under state law Armstrong agreed not to run, according to WTOP.

Armstrong’s office had argued that Armstrong should serve until Sunday, Jan. 3. On Thursday, Oct. 29, Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued an opinion that the winner may take office once the State Election Board certifies the results, according to NonDoc. The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rate the race Solid Republican, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates it Safe Republican, according to Ballotpedia’s Senate race overview.

Candidates In Brief

Republican Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) has represented Oklahoma’s 1st District since 2018. Hern built a business owning McDonald’s restaurants starting in 1999, and chaired the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s finance committee from 2011 to 2015, according to Hern’s Ballotpedia profile. Hern won the June 16 Republican primary with 69.8% of the vote.

Democrat N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas is a Chickasaw citizen raised in Ardmore. Thomas is a registered nurse and has been an active-duty military spouse for more than 12 years, according to KSWO’s Senate preview. Thomas led the June 16 Democratic primary with 45.2% and won the Tuesday, Aug. 25 runoff over Jim Priest with 58.7%. Thomas told NBC News that Thomas is a “self-proclaimed democratic socialist,” according to NonDoc.

Independent Curtis Stinnett grew up in Lindsay and has worked as a community pharmacist for 15 years. Independent Ron Meinhardt, 47, of Nowata County, is a registered nurse, documentary filmmaker and chief financial officer of a small business. Libertarian Sevier White advanced after the Libertarian primary was canceled and has no campaign website, according to NonDoc.

Where They Stand

Health care and costs. Hern says “Healthcare has become unaffordable for everyone.” In December 2025, Hern voted for the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which has not passed the Senate. Hern blames former President Joe Biden for higher prices, saying Biden “tripled the cost of everything.” Thomas and Stinnett support Medicare for All, and Thomas says the country “would actually save $4.5 billion a year” under it. White says “Medical care is so expensive because it is one of the most government-controlled industries we have” and wants providers to post their prices online.

Data centers and the Inola smelter. Thomas says Thomas’ top priority would be a moratorium on artificial intelligence data centers, and wants to put “a stop to the data centers for the time being,” according to KSWO. Meinhardt opposes a proposed aluminum smelter in Inola and says “If elected to the United States Senate, I will do all in my lawful power to stop this project.” Meinhardt believes local support should be required for any major industrial project, according to Oklahoma Voice’s Senate voter guide.

Taxes and spending. Hern supports extending tax cuts, cutting regulations and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, according to News 9. Stinnett wants solar panels on “all federal buildings” to cut the government’s utility bills.

Education. Hern defends the administration’s shift of Department of Education programs to other agencies, saying “We are not out to destroy education.” Stinnett says “You have to use the word dismantling” to describe the changes. Thomas says the changes “took away the rights of every student.”

Money in politics. Stinnett wants to overturn the Citizens United ruling and remove “corporate money, dark money” from elections. Meinhardt says “I believe we should totally ban congressional stock trading.”

Abortion and other priorities. Hern supports border barriers, school choice and pro-life legislation, according to News 9. Thomas supports reproductive rights, tribal sovereignty, paid family leave and a higher minimum wage. Stinnett supports abortion rights and reparations. Meinhardt opposes abortion and prioritizes religious liberty, according to Oklahoma Voice.

In Their Own Words

Kevin Hern, to NonDoc:

“The Senate cannot move. So I want to take decent ideologies, these working processes over to the Senate and see if we cannot get something moved.”

N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, on data centers, to KSWO:

“We need to know how this is affecting our Oklahomans.”

Curtis Stinnett, to NonDoc:

“I am the one that usually has to see people wrestle with that decision, which is one of the reasons I support us moving towards a Medicare for all system.”

Ron Meinhardt, to KSWO:

“If we’re not asking the community, ‘Do you want this here,’ I think we are doing a disservice to them.”

Sevier White, in a press release:

“Every time we add a new regulation or subsidy to help people, we add another layer of distance between doctors and nurses and their patients.”

Questionnaires And Debates

Thomas, Stinnett and Meinhardt completed Ballotpedia’s 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Hern’s campaign did not respond to KSWO’s calls and emails. White’s campaign agreed to follow up with KSWO but did not. Hern, Thomas and Stinnett gave interviews to NonDoc, while Meinhardt and White did not. On Thursday, Oct. 29, Thomas appeared on streamer Hasan Piker’s channel, where viewers donated $32,000 to Thomas’ campaign.

Endorsements

Before the primary, Trump endorsed Hern shortly after Mullin’s appointment, according to Oklahoma Voice. Also before the primary, the Club for Growth PAC endorsed Hern on Friday, March 13. The group’s president called Hern “the ideal candidate to represent Oklahomans in the Senate,” according to the group’s announcement. The National Women’s Political Caucus also lists Thomas among its endorsed candidates.

Who Is Funding Them

These figures are FEC totals for the 2026 cycle, as shown on AllCiv’s Oklahoma U.S. Senate race page as of Wednesday, Oct. 14:

  • Hern reported raising $10.9 million and spending $8.1 million, with $2.8 million on hand. About $5 million of Hern’s total came from a personal loan, according to NonDoc.
  • Thomas reported raising $116,000 and spending $93,000, with $24,000 on hand.
  • Meinhardt reported raising $16,000 and spending $14,000, with $2,000 on hand.

Stinnett and White do not appear in FEC campaign finance records. AllCiv’s race page shows $2.4 million in outside spending in the race.

The Incumbent’s Record

Armstrong, the appointed incumbent, is not on the ballot. Armstrong spent a career at Williams Companies, a Tulsa pipeline operator, serving as its president and chief executive from 2011 before becoming executive chairman. Armstrong had never held elected office before the appointment, according to WTOP.

Challengers’ Records

Hern serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and its Health and Tax subcommittees, according to Ballotpedia. This Congress, Hern has voted in 629 of 645 roll call votes and voted against most Republicans 3 times out of 592, according to AllCiv’s vote data. Hern has cosponsored 104 bills, and the 18 bills Hern sponsored drew 292 cosponsors. Thomas, Stinnett, Meinhardt and White have not held public office.

Scorecards Readers Can Check

All three of these groups grade both Bice and Hern:

The Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index ranks House members by how often they work across party lines. Each group picks different measures, so their ratings measure different things.

Also On Your Ballot

Every Oklahoma voter will see two proposed constitutional amendments that the Legislature sent to the ballot. Voters will also choose a governor to succeed Stitt from Republican Mike Mazzei, Democrat Cyndi Munson and three independents, according to AllCiv’s governor race page, along with other statewide and local offices. Sample ballots are on the OK Voter Portal.

State Question 845: Judicial Nominating Commission. The 15-member commission screens applicants for the state’s appellate courts and some judgeships. It sends three names to the governor, who makes the pick. A Yes vote does four things, according to Oklahoma Watch’s SQ 845 explainer:

  • It removes the limits on how many governor-appointed and at-large members can belong to one party.
  • It allows lawyers and their relatives to fill those seats.
  • It lets members serve consecutive terms, up to 12 years.
  • It bases the Bar Association’s seats on today’s congressional districts instead of the 1967 lines.

A No vote keeps the current rules. The SQ 845 ballot title says the measure “will not have a fiscal impact.” State Sen. Todd Gollihare (R-Sapulpa) says the courts have influence “that’s not really equitable to the majority party.” Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) says “Allowing for complete domination by one party is concerning.”

State Question 847: Property assessment limits. SQ 847 does not change tax rates. Starting in the 2027 tax year, a Yes vote lowers the yearly cap on increases in a property’s taxable value, according to Oklahoma Watch’s SQ 847 explainer:

  • For homes and farmland, the cap drops from 3% to 1.75%.
  • For other property, it drops from 5% to 4%.
  • Homeowners 65 or older whose income is above the limit for the existing senior freeze get lower caps, from 0.35% to 1.75%.

A No vote keeps the current caps. The SQ 847 ballot title says the exact fiscal impact is unknown. An analysis by University of Central Oklahoma professor Ryan Kiggins estimated local governments would lose $42 million in the first year and $241 million by the fifth.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) sponsored the measure through Senate Joint Resolution 39, and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports it. State Rep. Andy Fugate (D-Del City) says “This bill strangles our counties, it strangles our jails, it strangles our schools.” The Oklahoma Policy Institute urges a No vote. The Oklahoman’s editorial board also recommends No votes on both state questions.

Before You Go

Still Ahead

  • Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the State Election Board’s next election page. Find your polling place on the OK Voter Portal with your name and date of birth.
  • Mail ballots sent by U.S. mail or a private delivery service must reach your county election board by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Standard absentee affidavits must be notarized, according to the State Election Board’s absentee voting page.
  • ID: Bring a photo ID issued by the U.S. government, the State of Oklahoma or a federally recognized tribal government, or the free voter identification card your county election board mailed you. Without ID, you can vote a provisional ballot by signing a sworn affidavit, according to the State Election Board’s proof of identity page.
  • In the booth: You may bring notes or a marked sample ballot, but keep them out of view until you are in the booth. Campaigning is barred within 300 feet of a polling place entrance, according to the State Election Board’s Voting 101 guide.
  • Questions: Call the State Election Board at (405) 521-2391, or call or text the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Deadlines That Have Passed

  • Registration closed Friday, Oct. 9. Oklahoma does not allow registration in the 24 days before an election.
  • Mail ballot requests were due at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.
  • Early voting ran from Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Saturday, Oct. 31.

Sources

AllCiv Profiles and Race Pages

Official Records

Candidate Statements and Questionnaires

News

Ballot Measures

Endorsements

Scorecards

Voting Information

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