Oklahoma

Oklahoma election today: What’s on the ballot? Primary runoffs, hotel tax and more

Published

4 months ago

August 27, 2024

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Oklahoma election today: What’s on the ballot? Primary runoffs, hotel tax and more

Oklahomans head to the voting booth Tuesday to decide local issues like taxes, school bonds and legislative seats.

Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The EMBARK bus, RAPID and OKC Streetcar services will be free on all routes to help registered voters make it to the polls.

What’s on Tuesday’s ballot? Here’s what to know about Oklahoma’s Aug. 27 election:

When are elections taking place this year?

The next scheduled election in Oklahoma is the Aug. 27 primary runoff for federal, county and state offices. The deadline to register to vote in this election was Aug. 2.

The general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.

What do I need to take to the polls?

You will need to prove your identity to cast a regular ballot.

This can be done with a valid photo ID or the voter registration card you received from your County Election Board when you registered to vote.

Valid IDs must be issued by either the federal government, the state or a tribal nation, and the expiration date must be past the election date. If you don’t present a valid ID, poll workers will allow you to vote using a “provisional” ballot if you sign a sworn affidavit.

What’s on the ballot? See sample ballot in Oklahoma

To see who will be on your ballot, visit the state election board’s election list.

Elections of note:

Oklahoma City will vote on a hotel tax

Oklahoma City voters will decide Tuesday whether to increase the local hotel occupancy tax.

The tax is paid by those staying in the city’s hotels, and the funds are used to promote the city’s tourism industry. If passed, the tax would increase from its current rate of 5.50% to 9.25%, effective Oct. 1. The tax increase would also be charged to people renting home-sharing properties, such as Airbnbs, in Oklahoma City.

The last time OKC’s hotel tax appeared on the ballot, nearly 90% of voters approved the rate.

More: The growing Guthrie Public Schools district among those seeking passage of bond proposals

Metro communities voting on fire protection, schools, roads

In the cities and communities around Oklahoma City, there are several propositions that would increase taxes or allow the sale of bonds.

Deer Creek Fire Protection District is asking residents within its borders to increase their allocation to 10 mills from the current 7 or 7.3 mills. A mill is equal to $1 in tax for every $1,000 in a property’s taxable value. The district noted it hasn’t asked for an increase in 28 years.

McLoud Public Schools proposed bonds worth $30 million for new construction and another $1.1 million to acquire transportation equipment.

Piedmont residents’ ballots will include 25-year bond proposals that would raise over $10 million for streets, nearly $4.7 million for sports and recreation facilities, and $1.9 million for municipal facility construction.

Shawnee will elect a new mayor. Residents will decide between incumbent Mayor Ed Bolt and challenger Eric Stephens. The ballot will also include a contest for Ward 2 council seat between Greta Madson and Sydnie Davidson.

Further down the turnpike, Tulsa will select a new mayor.

Legislative primary runoffs

Ten legislative races will appear on ballots across the state as Republicans make their final choices for November. Each of these candidates were forced into a runoff when no candidate had a majority of votes in their partisan primary.

More: Four legislative races to be decided in primary runoff elections on Tuesday

Several of these primary runoff contests are for seats in the Oklahoma City area.

North OKC’s Senate District 47 is currently held by term-limited Senate leader Greg Treat. The Republican primary runoff will see Kelly E. Hines face Jenny Schmitt.
In Cleveland County, Lisa Standridge will face Robert C. Keyes for the GOP nomination in Senate District 15.
House District 20 covers the cities of Newcastle and Goldsby. Republicans Mike Whaley and Jonathan Wilk will be on the ballot there.
Moore’s state representative in District 53 will be Jason Blair or Nick Pokorny. Because there are no other candidates, the winner will become the district’s next representative.
In Canadian County, the House District 60 GOP runoff features Mike Kelley and Ron Lynch. No other parties fielded a candidate.
Northeast of Oklahoma City in Lincoln County is House District 32, currently held by House Appropriation and Budget Committee Chair Kevin Wallace. His challenger in the contentious election is fellow Republican Jim Shaw.
Further afield in Oklahoma, several other races will be decided on Tuesday. In the Duncan area, retiring District 50 state Rep. Marcus McEntire will be replaced by either Stacy Jo Adams and Andrew Aldridge. Both are Republicans.
A Republican state senator in eastern Oklahoma near Tahlequah is trying to hold onto his seat. Blake Cowboy Stephens faces a primary challenge from Julie McIntosh in Senate District 3.
Senate District 33 features a race between Republicans Christi Gillespie and Shelley Gwartney in Broken Arrow.
Another contest in Broken Arrow pits state Rep. Dean Davis against Gabe Woolley. Davis made headlines last year when he was arrested for public intoxication. The winner in the House District 98 GOP primary runoff will face the Democratic nominee in November.

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Oklahoma

Firefighters respond to commercial fire in Oklahoma City

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Firefighters respond to commercial fire in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City Fire Department responded to a commercial fire near the area of NW 10th and N Western Avenue.

OKCFD were at the scene of a commercial fire around 7 p.m. Saturday night, when they arrived there was heavy smoke visible from multiple floors of a boarded up building.

One adult female was found in the building and taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

At this time no cause has been reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma

Navy Coach Brian Newberry Talks Oklahoma Prep, Going for 10 Wins

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

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Navy Coach Brian Newberry Talks Oklahoma Prep, Going for 10 Wins

NORMAN — Bowl season is a bit unconventional for Navy.

The Midshipmen annually play against Army six days after the bowl schedule is released. That was the case this year, as Navy beat the Black Knights 31-13 on Dec. 14.

Beating Army is always a highlight for the Midshipmen. But the drawback for them is that they have less time than their bowl opponent to prepare for the game.

In this case, that’s Oklahoma. The Sooners will enter the game with more than two weeks of preparation for Navy’s triple-option offense.

“It’s just a little different,” Navy coach Brian Newberry told reporters earlier this week. “They’ve known they’re going to play us for a little time now.”

Navy Coach, Oklahoma Native Brian Newberry Grew Up On OU Football

Navy does, however, enter the Armed Forces Bowl with momentum.

The Midshipmen (9-3) eased past Army last week in Landover, MD. They outgained the Black Knights 384-179 and forced Army quarterback Bryson Daily to throw three interceptions.

Navy’s rivalry win was its third in the last four games after the Midshipmen went on a two-game skid in the middle of the season. Newberry cited his team’s physicality in recent games, particularly in the Midshipmen’s drubbing of Army.

“I was so impressed with how our kids handled the moment,” Newberry said. “Army’s a really, really good football team. I thought we physically dominated the game in the way that we blocked, beat blocks, the way we tackled. I thought we outplayed them in all three phases, so I’m really, really proud of that.”

A stark difference between the teams is the number of players that have entered the transfer portal.

The Sooners have seen 25 players from their 2024 team enter the portal. The Midshipmen have suffered only one departure in the winter portal window with defensive back Lorenzo Vitti.

On one hand, that makes Oklahoma preparation tough for Navy.

“It’s interesting,” Newberry said. “We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard. And it could certainly change with a different quarterback.”

But largely, the Midshipmen’s lack of transfers gives Newberry confidence that his team will be bought in for one more game in 2024.

“The portal can affect us, players can jump in the portal — we’re not getting that,” Newberry said. “It’s challenging to build a culture anywhere in college football right now, one that’s built on a certain level of trust. They know each other really, really well. They’ve fought through adversity. They stay the course, they pay the price and they have an opportunity.”

Navy will also play for more than just another win; the Midshipmen are looking to make history.

Navy has reached the 10-win mark just four times in program history. The Midshipmen did so three times under former coach Ken Niumatalolo from 2009-2019.

Having a shot at history while playing Oklahoma — the state that Newberry hails from — excites the coach.

“It’s the last time that this team gets to play together,” Newberry said. “They want to go out the right way against a storied program like Oklahoma. It’s a great reward to play in a bowl game, but it’s a game we want to win.”

The Midshipmen and Sooners will play in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth at 11 a.m. on Dec. 27.

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Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Sees Armed Forces Bowl as Growth Opportunity

Published

19 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Sees Armed Forces Bowl as Growth Opportunity

As Danny Stutsman departs from Oklahoma, Kip Lewis seems to be the next man up.

A redshirt sophomore linebacker in 2024, Lewis was one of the Sooners’ better defenders. In addition to his 28 solo tackles, Lewis intercepted two passes, running both of them back for touchdowns.

Lewis hopes to be the leader that Stutsman was over his four years at OU. But his goal isn’t to be a Stutsman clone.

“I feel like I’m my own player and my own leader in how I do things,” Lewis said. “Danny’s a great player, great leader. Taught me everything I need to know. I think I’m just my own person. I don’t think I need to step into his role and be the Danny. There’s only one.”

Lewis played and started in all 12 of the Sooners’ games in the 2024 season. It was his second season as a regular on OU’s defense after playing in just two games as a true freshman.

In Oklahoma’s first season as an SEC squad, Lewis and his defensive counterparts saw plenty of offensive stars. Between Garrett Nussmeier at LSU and Quinn Ewers at Texas, there was never really a dull moment for the Sooners during conference play.

Lewis will see a different type of challenge at the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.

WATCH: Navy HC Brian Newberry Ahead of Armed Forces Bowl vs. Oklahoma

The Midshipmen — like the other service academies — run a triple-option offense. While Navy, Army and Air Force struggle to get the highly-touted recruits that other programs draw, the unconventional offense sets them apart.

Thankfully for Lewis, this style of offense isn’t new.

“I’m a little used to it. So it’s been a minute since I played it, but it brought me back to my roots playing the Wing-T. There’s a team called Pleasant Grove out there in Texas, so they used to give me a run for my money back in the day.”

Navy finished the regular season 9-3. The Midshipmen started the season 6-0 before losing three times in a four-game span.

They ended the season well, though, beating both East Carolina and Army by double digits to end the regular season.

Lewis and multiple of his teammates tuned in as the Midshipmen beat Army in the annual rivalry game.

“They showed a lot of fight, a lot of grit,” Lewis said. “I think that’s an important key into playing football.”

Lewis will play only one more game as an underclassman. Then, he’ll step into the role of other defensive leaders the Sooners have seen recently, whether that’s Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., Woodi Washington or others.

Games like the Armed Forces Bowl will help him get there.

“Just always having to bring my best effort every day,” Lewis said. “Just bringing everything I’ve got. Just every day, I bring my value into whatever that is, whatever I’ve gotta do for my team. I think it’ll be a big role.”

The Sooners will battle the Midshipmen on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

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