You never know where a voting public’s head is at on an issue much less a whole set of them — and that’s what Oklahoma City’s general obligation bond vote was, a vote on 11 different bonds constituting different issues.

Well, voters overwhelmingly passed all 11 by between 75% and 85%. News 9 has all the bond numbers up top, and so I peeked at them once they all hit 100% precincts reporting to see which bonds performed best and which performed not worst, but “least best.”

The most popular bonds were the $90.6M for bridges and the $130M for fire facilities.

The least popular was the $175M to develop the economy and community, passing by a 74.5% to 24.5% margin.

The victory for Mayor David Holt could signal anything from a healthy economy to strong communication about the issues from the mayor’s office. To be honest, it could also be a referendum on the trust Oklahoma City residents have in their mayor.

I know there were more elections than in just OKC, so here’s the full list from the state election board. If any of these results caught you by surprise, message me at [email protected] and let me know why. I’d love to hear from you!

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Hot days and comfortable nights. Pattern changes this weekend!

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 84°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 84°

By Lionel Ramos, KOSU
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Some Oklahoma lawmakers are keen on regulating independent political expenditures — also known as ‘dark money’ donations — used to influence state and local elections. An interim study of the subject in the House Elections and Ethics Committee discussed the dangers and possible solutions to a growing concern.

Tulsa Democrat Rep. Meloyde Blancett led the interim study on dark money before the House Elections and Ethics Committee on Monday.

Dark money refers to anonymous political contributions made through nonprofits with limited campaign finance reporting regulations. Generally, such untraceable contributions are used to purchase political advertisements in support of or against a certain candidate. Blancett has a simpler explanation:

“Essentially, it's laundry,” she said. “It's just like laundering money, is what it is.”

And it’s completely legal, as Oklahoma and other states have been slow to regulate since the U.S. Supreme Court set a precedent more than a decade ago when it ruled in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) case.

State Ethics Commission Director Leanne Bruce Boone says nearly $4 million — dark and otherwise — have already been spent to support Oklahoma political candidates in the 2026 General Election.

Committee members discussed how existing state policy addresses concerns about dark money, if at all, and whether candidates, campaigns and donors should be afforded certain privacy protections.

They also looked at examples of regulations other states have implemented to reel in dark money contributions and who makes them.

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By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s updated campaign finance reporting system will launch on Oct. 28, according to a news release. 

Guardian 2.0, which provides public access to candidate expenditures and contributors, was initially set to launch Oct. 1 but was delayed for “final adjustments” and to ensure data was accurately converted between the old and new software systems.  

The change in the software system is a result of a vendor no longer supporting the old system. Guardian has been shut off since Sept. 19. 

The site also provides information about lobbyists, which candidates have filed ethics paperwork to run for public office and the formation of political action committees.

Guardian 2.0 will make filing and public access to campaign finance information easier, have a new login, and a more intuitive filing experience, according to the Ethics Commission’s website. The Legislature previously appropriated $1.2 million to the Ethics Commission for system updates. 

Lee Anne Bruce Boone, executive director of the Ethics Commission, said launching the system before it’s fully ready would create “far greater problems.” 

No filers will be penalized while the system is down, according to the Ethics Commission website. Staff at the Commission are available to work directly with filers.

Third quarter campaign finance reports are due Oct. 31. The reporting period could be extended with late fees waived if necessary, according to the Commission’s website. 

“Our responsibility is to deliver a product that performs accurately and securely from day one,” Bruce Boone said in a statement. “Taking the time to ensure the system is stable and the data is reliable reflects our commitment to doing this right—not just doing it fast.”

There could be minor technical issues when Guardian 2.0 launches but a support team will be available, she previously said.

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Oklahoma City passes $2.7 billion bond package, Little Axe voters reject new high school and more (KOSU)

• ‘It hurts all of us’: Mass deportations ensnare immigrant service members, veterans and their families (NonDoc)

• Elevated levels of lead found in water of some Ardmore buildings, city says (KXII)

• Advocates question effectiveness, legality of Oklahoma's 'Operation SAFE' in Tulsa (KGOU)

• City, firefighters at impasse over contract negotiations (Tulsa World)

• Plaintiffs in mental health case ask court to fine state $10,000 a day (Tulsa World)

• Five Republicans, one Democrat running to fill vacancy in Oklahoma House (Oklahoma Voice)

• Raising the minimum wage could reduce eviction rates, data shows (Oklahoma Watch)

• 2025 Tulsa State Fair attendance drops by 100,000 compared to last year (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• City staff cited property managers, not apartments' owners, 45 times over sewage spills (The Oklahoman)

• Muscogee Nation opens traffic court in Jenks (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Nick Coffey first Democrat to launch 2026 attorney general campaign (NonDoc)

• Development project in Oklahoma City's Midtown district set to move forward (KOCO)

• Rising trash service costs push the city to adjust rates; residents want more transparency (The O’Colly)

• Bigfoot believers, those intrigued by mystery, share stories at Delaware Nation's Anadarko festival (KOSU)

• Skiatook 911 dispatcher honored for saving baby’s life, meets family in person (News On 6)

• $1.9M verdict in Tulsa teen’s motorcycle wreck involving deputy (2 News Oklahoma)

• PSO'S PLANS: Crews prepare overhaul of transmission lines in parts of Tulsa and Jenks (2 News Oklahoma)

• Tulsa celebrates Native American Day with messages of unity and tribal sovereignty (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Gov. Kevin Stitt issues proclamation declaring Charlie Kirk Day in Oklahoma (KOCO)

• Winners announced in Oklahoma's first-ever snowplow naming contest (KOSU)

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily local news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

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