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Tuesday, September 29, 2026 • Chance of rain. 87-88.
Podcast: Watch Oklahoma Memo’s full conversation with U.S. Senate candidate N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas on YouTube. You can listen to it wherever you get your podcasts, or right here:
OKLAHOMA MEMO
Jasmine Thomas on What She’d Do in the U.S. Senate
Poll results:
We received 301 votes on the Monday poll, “Should small towns have more power to block large data center projects near their communities?”
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Yes (251)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No (17)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ It depends (33)
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
Midterm Oklahoma rally signals trouble for Republicans, Trump, experts say
President Donald Trump (Library of Congress)
By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
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President Donald Trump’s unusual decision to hold a midterm rally in a rural part of Oklahoma, a state long considered a Republican stronghold, signals GOP panic that voters may sit out the election as the president’s popularity wanes.
Political scientists said Thursday’s campaign rally in Durant, a city of about 21,500 people located about 2.5 hours southeast of Oklahoma City, also underscores GOP concerns that a Trump endorsement has decreased in value.
Trump’s first official appearance in the state in six years also comes as a state party leader said Democrats nationally are putting resources into flipping an Oklahoma City-area congressional seat that has been held by Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice since 2021.
“I think it’s a signal of how bad things have gotten for the Republicans under Trump,” said Seth McKee, a political science professor at Oklahoma State University.
While Trump won all 77 of the state’s counties two years ago, his approval ratings have dropped across the country, including in Oklahoma, as war with Iran continues and everyday costs continue to rise.
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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰
Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.
Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
‘You’ve dragged your feet': Piedmont delays data center vote for fifth time (News 9)
DHS Sec. Markwayne Mullin defends ICE in Oklahoma shouting match (The Oklahoman)*
Council places Edmond city attorney on leave, reason unclear (NonDoc)
U.S. Sen. Armstrong calls for nationwide permitting reform, gaining bipartisan support (Gaylord News)
Tulsa County adds two early-voting locations (Public Radio Tulsa)
Edmond jaywalking arrest highlights homeless count, body camera questions (NonDoc)
Nick Coffey, Jon Echols agree to attorney general debate (NonDoc)
Severance agreements with Oklahoma regulatory agency top $300K (Oklahoma Voice)
Hughes County DA announces charges for two former educators in unrelated crimes (KJRH)
Will a Pennsylvania junior military college move to Oklahoma? It might have to (KOSU)
Sniper at football game draws criticism; Coweta superintendent cites security policy (Tulsa World)*
Naked intruder caught on camera entering OU students’ apartments (KOCO)
Tuesday Poll
What do you think is the main reason Trump is holding a midterm rally in Oklahoma?
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.
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