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Thursday, November 5, 2026 • Rain chances return by afternoon. Mid-60s. 🌧️
Poll results:
We received 363 votes on the Wednesday poll, “After the 2026 midterm elections, how are you feeling about the results?”
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Optimistic about what's ahead (117)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Disappointed with the results (62)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Surprised by what happened (12)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Concerned about the direction of the country (101)
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Ready to move on from election season (71)
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
Dems oust five Oklahoma Republican incumbents
The Oklahoma House legislative chamber sits empty. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)
By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
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While failing to win any statewide races on Tuesday, Oklahoma House Democrats saw their biggest caucus gains in over 20 years.
Democrats not only maintained their existing seats, but gained six more in the state House by ousting five Republican incumbents and winning one other open seat previously held by the other party.
After experiencing a technical issue Tuesday night, Comanche County election officials manually tallied ballots through Wednesday afternoon before determining that a Democrats also picked up a Lawton-area seat where an incumbent was not running.
House Minority Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said her caucus knew there was a need for the Democratic Party to focus on solutions for working families, so this election they honed in on finding candidates who aligned with solving these issues.
She said there’s excitement mixed with disappointment over Tuesday night’s outcomes. Nationally, Democrats made huge gains in other states winning governorships, statewide offices, and congressional seats. Oklahoma didn’t see a similar blue wave as the GOP continued its dominance.
But Provenzano said Oklahoma Democrats are celebrating their gains in the state House.
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The Oklahoma Rundown
Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.
Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
Gov.-elect Mike Mazzei lays out priorities in first public appearance since election win (KFOR)
Oklahoma Superintendent Robert Franklin raises concerns about reading law (News On 6)
‘Glitches happen’: What delayed election results in two Oklahoma counties (News 9)
Did 2021 redistricting seal Bice's victory over Nelson in Oklahoma's CD-5 race? (KOSU)
Democratic sweep of Congress threatens Oklahoma’s influence on Capitol Hill (Gaylord News)
Legislative results: 5 House Republicans ousted, Danny Williams survives (NonDoc)
Democrat will represent Lawton in Oklahoma House District 64 for first time in over 20 years (KOSU)
Mayo wins Dist 3 seat as Democrats sweep Oklahoma County (Oklahoma City Free Press)
Oklahoma County voters strongly reject new jail tax (Oklahoma City Free Press)
Oklahoma City’s job growth outpaces the nation, but not everyone feels the boost (KOCO)
New data shows 44 Oklahoma rural hospitals face closure (KFOR)
Tulsa Public Schools, Aramark to cut ties in December (Public Radio Tulsa)
Oklahoma City man accused of sending threatening letters with white powder to election officials (Oklahoma Voice)
Proposed Head Start standards could complicate communication for Hispanic families (Oklahoma Watch)
Thursday Poll
What surprised you most about Oklahoma's election results?
Explain this to me!
What’s happening in Oklahoma that doesn’t make sense to you? Send me your question. I may answer it here in Oklahoma Memo or turn it into a video.
Email: [email protected]
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