Ethics Commission sues vendor over failed campaign finance system

Drummond represents Ethics Commission in lawsuit over failed campaign finance system

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 22, 2026) -- The Oklahoma Ethics Commission, represented by Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office, has filed a lawsuit against RFD & Associates, Inc., alleging the Texas-based vendor failed to deliver a critical political finance reporting system despite repeated assurances and multiple deadline extensions, costing the state more than $800,000.

In December 2024, the Ethics Commission contracted with RFD & Associates, Inc. to create a new system to support statutorily mandated filing, review, and public disclosure in a timely manner. With the exception of the initial project kickoff, it failed to meet six of seven major contractual milestones and never produced an operational system. 

Hern Policy Institute launched to advance innovation and opportunity

Congressman Kevin Hern and his family have a new project:

Hern Policy Institute Launched To Advance Innovation and Opportunity

TULSA, OK, January 20, 2026 – The Hern Family of Tulsa, Oklahoma announced the launch of the Hern Policy Institute (HPI) to advance economic freedom and opportunity through research and innovation.

“Our family has always strived to help individuals, families, and communities that have experienced significant hardship. We believe it is time to direct resources and research into stopping economic hardship before it ever begins,” said Tammy Hern, Board of Directors of the Hern Policy Institute. “The Hern Policy Institute will fund and conduct research, foster innovation, and promote policies that unleash economic prosperity and allow our families and communities to flourish.”

State lawmakers urge Oklahomans: Be wary of signing SQ 836 petition

Most - but not all - of the Oklahoma Legislature's Republican members signed the following letter against State Question 836. Some of the missing names are unusual (mostly RINOs with a sprinkling of real conservatives); I'm trying to track down why a few of the 'good guys' aren't on here.

State lawmakers urge Oklahomans: Be wary of signing SQ 836 petition

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 22, 2026)—Today, Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton and Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, along with 110 of their fellow members of the Oklahoma Legislature, issued an open letter to the people of Oklahoma, urging them to be wary of signing the initiative petition to place State Question 836 on the statewide ballot.

The letter can be read here [PDF].

All totaled, the letter represents over 75 percent of the membership of Oklahoma’s two legislative chambers.

Small: Credit card debate based on false assumptions

Credit card debate based on false assumptions

By Jonathan Small

“Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself.”

Those are the words of Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman. Oklahomans are seeing this lack of belief in freedom firsthand as out-of-state interest groups seek to raise the minimum wage. Not to be outdone, lawmakers in Washington share the same unbelief in freedom as they seek to pass the poorly named Credit Card Competition Act.

Legislator files bill to increase daily physical activity for Oklahoma students

Roe Files Bill to Increase Daily Physical Activity for Oklahoma Students

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 14th) – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, has filed legislation to expand physical education requirements for students in full-day pre-K through 12th grade across Oklahoma.

House Bill 3288 would increase required physical activity to 30 or 45 minutes per school day, depending on grade level, reflecting research linking regular exercise to stronger academic performance, improved mental health and better long-term health outcomes.

"Students benefit when physical activity is built into their school day," Roe said. "This bill is about helping them learn better, feel better, and grow into healthier adults. Strong bodies support strong minds. Regular movement not only supports their health, but it also helps them focus, retain information, and perform better academically."

The bill would expand current physical education requirements to include full-day pre-K and raise weekly activity time for elementary students from a weekly average of 60 minutes to a minimum of 150 minutes, or about 30 minutes per school day. Recess would not count toward the required minutes.

Contraband: OK Corrections seizes 2,000 pounds of substances, 10,000 banned items during 2025

I have so many questions after reading this...

Oklahoma Corrections seizes millions in contraband during 2025

(January 14th) The Oklahoma Department of Corrections seized millions of dollars in contraband during 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to protect staff, inmates and the public and to disrupt illegal activity inside state correctional facilities.

The seizures result from joint efforts by facility staff and the Office of the Inspector General. Contraband was confiscated from inmates, staff members and individuals attempting to smuggle illegal items into facilities through visits, drones, perimeter drops and other methods.

Drummond attracts donations from 6th most liberal senator

In an interesting tidbit from campaign finance filings, State Sen. Jo Anna Dossett (D-Tulsa) appears to be donating $10 per month to Republican Gentner Drummond's gubernatorial campaign. The date lines up with something like an auto-draft, and hints that donations may stretch back to April.

According to the Oklahoma Constitution's Conservative Index, Dossett is the 6th most liberal member of the Oklahoma Senate.

This is a bit of a turnaround from the more traditional Drummond track record, where he is usually the one giving campaign donations to Democrats, such as

• $1,000 to Brad Carson in 2004 (against conservative hero Tom Coburn).
• $2,500 to Democratic Congressman Dan Boren from 2004 to 2010.
• $1,500 to Democratic Lt. Governor candidate Pete Regan in 2005-2006.
• $500 to Democrat Drew Edmondson's 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
• $1,450 to Democratic nominee John Olson in the 1st Congressional District race in 2012.
• $500 to Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith (D) in 2012.
• $1,000 to Tulsa mayoral candidate Kathy Taylor (D) in 2013
• $1,000 to Democratic senatorial nominee Matt Silverstein (running against Jim Inhofe).
• $500 to State Representative and future Oklahoma Democratic Party chair John Waldron in 2017.
• $250 to State House candidate Andy Richardson in 2018.
• $1,000 to Joe Biden in 2020 (Drummond blames it on his wife).

Mazzei launches major ad buy in GOP gubernatorial primary

MIKE MAZZEI LAUNCHES MASSIVE MEDIA BLITZ

Tulsa, OK (January 14, 2026) -- Mike Mazzei, Republican candidate for Oklahoma Governor, this week launched a multi-million dollar media campaign which begins airing immediately across TV and streaming platforms. This comprehensive campaign will highlight Mike Mazzei’s true conservative principles.

“This is not just an advertising campaign -- it’s a movement to restore the values that make Oklahoma great,” Mike Mazzei said. “I'm running for Governor so that Oklahomans keep more of what they earn. I have a proven record of cutting taxes but we have more to do. As Governor, I have a plan to eliminate the property tax for seniors and veterans. We will phase out the income tax while investing in skilled-trade education to grow wages, not big government.”

Rep. Shaw files bills aimed at accountability, local oversight

This freshman legislator is swiftly becoming a favorite champion for grassroots conservatives in Oklahoma:

Shaw Files Legislative Package Focused on Accountability, Local Oversight

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 20th) – Rep. Jim Shaw, R-Chandler, has filed five bills for the 2026 legislative session focused on strengthening local decision-making, protecting taxpayers and ensuring accountability in major infrastructure and community development.

“These bills reflect clear promises I made to my constituents, and I am committed to delivering real progress on them this session,” Shaw said. “Oklahomans are tired of being sidelined while decisions are made that affect their land, their utilities and their tax dollars. This package puts control back where it belongs – with local communities and taxpayers, rather than politicians, unelected bureaucrats and special interest lobbyists who have their own agenda and essentially complete control over our state.”

Sen. Sacchieri bill would set moratorium on new data centers, study long-term effect on utilities, environment

Senator Sacchieri Files Legislation to Address Unknown Impacts of Data Centers on Oklahoma Communities

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Jan. 22nd) — Senator Kendal Sacchieri (R-Blanchard) has introduced Senate Bill 1488, legislation that would establish a moratorium on the construction of new data centers in Oklahoma until November 1, 2029 and direct the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to study the long-term effects these large facilities may have on state infrastructure and resources.

The moratorium would pause new data center development while the Corporation Commission conducts a comprehensive review of key concerns, including water supply impacts, utility rate pressures, property value effects, and optimal siting practices. The bill requires the Commission to submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature to inform future policy decisions.

Oklahoma Legislature sets another record for new bills filed before legislative session

When we add in the Senate bill filing, we come up with approximately 2,651 new pieces of legislation filed for the 2026 legislative session. As best as I can tell, that is - yet again - another record for even-year sessions, on top of the odd-year record set last year. Odd-numbered years, being the first half of each two-year legislative term, tend to have more measures filed than the second [even-numbered] year of the term; in most cases, unheard bills from the first year of the term can still be acted on in the second.

• 2026: 2,651
• 2025: 3,103
• 2024: 2,077
• 2023: 3,079
• 2022: 2,299
• 2021: 3,049
• 2020: 2,240
• 2019: 2,815

House Completes Bill Filing for 2026 Session

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 16th) – The Oklahoma House of Representatives completed bill filing Thursday, Jan. 15, for the Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature. A total of 1,578 House Bills and 50 House Joint Resolutions were filed before the deadline.

Small: Time to target government fraud

Time to target government fraud

By Jonathan Small

The state of Minnesota has recently made national news for an astounding level of fraud. When YouTuber Nick Shirley visited numerous daycare centers receiving an estimated $110 million in taxpayer subsidies, he found most appeared to serve no children. The resulting outcry led Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to abruptly announce he was abandoning a re-election bid. Federal officials are now investigating.

Similarly, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York recently filed charges against a long list of defendants accused of perpetrating one of the largest food-stamp fraud schemes in history, totaling more than $66 million in alleged illegal transactions.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently estimated as much as 10 percent of the federal budget, around $300 billion to $600 billion per year, is stolen by fraudsters.