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By Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch
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The transactions range from a $2.35 cup of coffee to $402.55 worth of food and alcohol at an upscale Oklahoma City restaurant. 

Add it all up, and lobbyists have spent more than $414,000 on meals, beverages and gifts for lawmakers since January 2025. That number is likely to increase as the legislative session marches toward sine die and the latest lobbyist spending reports come due in early May. 

Many lawmakers, who work part-time and are term-limited, said the meals help them learn about complex issues and fine-tune legislation. But the rate of spending has drawn the ire of a slew of Republican primary challengers, who are hitting the campaign trail with a message that their opponents are more beholden to lobbyists than their constituents. 

At least 11 legislative candidates have vowed not to accept any lobbyist meals, gifts or campaign contributions, according to an Oklahoma Watch review of campaign websites and social media pages. Some of them are challenging influential lawmakers in leadership positions, including Senate Budget Chairman Chuck Hall and Senate Education Committee Vice Chair Ally Seifried, who could be appointed to lead the committee if the chairman, Adam Pugh, is elected state superintendent. 

“They’re either going to have to receive the message and change or they’re going to lose their jobs,” said Payton Pepin, a Republican candidate for Senate District 2 who is looking to unseat Seifried. “Or they may be able to keep doing business as usual. You never know. But I hope they get knocked on their ass.” 

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

• Complete list of Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon winners (News 9)

• Oklahoma leaders respond after shots fired at White House Correspondents' Dinner (2 News Oklahoma)

• Rural areas are struggling to get opioid settlement grants. Oklahoma wants to change that. (Tulsa Flyer)

• Change in marijuana classification may benefit state businesses (Tulsa World)*

• Hearing set to determine constitutionality of vote on $8 million Norman homeless shelter bond (OU Daily)

• OHP trooper pleads guilty to kicking man in head during traffic stop (The Oklahoman)*

• 15-year-old Stillwater resident killed in Saturday night crash on US-177 (The O’Colly)

• 20-year-old man dead after Cherokee County crash (Fox 23)

• Tribe honors veterans with 14th trip to Washington, D.C. (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Oklahoma Chronicle: Successful Adulthood Act; speaking with gubernatorial candidate Gentner Drummond (KOCO)

• Session watch: Week 12 (Oklahoma Watch)

• A new director for Tulsa’s children and youth may be headed for city hall (Tulsa Flyer)

• Judge issues temporary restraining order against the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission (KFOR)

• ‘I can’t see beyond the tears’: Texoma town says goodbye to beloved school (KXII)

• Ardmore mourns longtime Sonic carhop Donna Shelton (KXII)

A daily briefing connecting Oklahomans to the state’s best journalism — and original content from Oklahoma Memo. Got a news tip? Somebody I need to interview? Message me at [email protected].

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