Oklahoma Political News

In what would be his first official visit to Oklahoma in six years, President Donald Trump is set to attend a rally Thursday in Durant, the Republican National Committee announced.

The “midterm rally” featuring Trump is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Choctaw Event Center.

Read the full atory at Oklahoma Voice.

A federal judge has granted a proposed Jewish charter school‘s request for a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of the nonsectarian requirement of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act.

Read the full story at NonDoc.

The White House Thursday withdrew the nomination of Richard “Lance” Schroyer to lead the agency the president tasked with carrying out his mass deportation campaign, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, had yet to have his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Read the full story at Oklahoma City Free Press.

Two Oklahoma mothers, who said they were forced to leave the state in order to terminate nonviable pregnancies, sued state leaders Wednesday, challenging the limits of the state’s abortion ban.

Read the full story at Oklahoma Voice.

nola residents will decide the fate of a massive aluminum smelter in a town-wide vote next spring. Until then, city officials have paused heavy industrial development — including the aluminum smelting facility, which would be the largest in the country.

Inola’s town council voted unanimously in favor of extending the moratorium through April 7, 2027. They originally enacted the pause on development in late June, and it expired at the end of August.

Read the full story at Oklahoma Voice.

Oklahoma lawmakers are beginning to prepare interim studies. These fall meetings, with bipartisan and bicameral support, can offer a glimpse of policy priorities during the legislative session.

Interim studies are publicly held meetings meant to inform lawmakers and the public about an impending political or social issue. They usually cover a wide range of topics, from public safety and the judicial system to water issues and healthcare.

This year, there are about 90 approved studies in each chamber. Several overlap topically, suggesting where lawmakers' priorities lie ahead of the next legislative session.

Read the full story at KGOU.

Rather than choosing a new education secretary for the final five months of his term, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday he tapped Oklahoma’s state superintendent to serve as his top adviser on school policy.

Lindel Fields will hold both positions, Stitt said, following Education Secretary Dan Hamlin’s recent departure. Oklahoma’s next governor, who would choose his or her own Cabinet officials, will take office in January, as will the next elected state superintendent.

Read the full story at Oklahoma Voice.

A House lawmaker said Wednesday that a fellow Republican has blocked his efforts to hold a study at the Capitol to probe a controversial aluminum smelter that the Trump administration wants to build in his hometown.

Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, denied his request to hold an interim study about aluminum smelters. Gann said he was further censored when he was barred from using House resources to distribute a news release letting the public know why the hearing would not take place.

Read the full story at KGOU.

...HD 81 Republican voters are preparing to choose between telecommunications professional Troy Talley and petroleum and real estate businessman Rusty Rains, each of whom said he decided to run after being approached by family friends who are political consultants.

Read the full story at NonDoc.

Oklahomans looking to cast their ballot in the Aug. 25 partisan primary runoff election have until the end of the month to register to vote or update their voter registration, though they cannot change their party affiliation.

Changes to a resident’s voter registration, like name or address changes, can be made as long as the registration is received or postmarked by the July 31 deadline.

Voters can update their registration online through the state’s voter portal with an up-to-date driver’s license or state ID or by completing an application in person at their local county election board. Applications are also available at many tag agencies, post offices and public libraries.

View the full story at Oklahoma Voice.