By Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy CEO Joe Dorman
OKLAHOMA CITY – Election Night in Oklahoma presented few changes, unlike the rest of the nation. Nationally, Democrats secured majorities in the US Senate and House of Representatives, and states elected a majority of Democratic governors for the first time since 1994.
While larger than most cycles, this election outcome nationally was expected; only twice in 162 years has a President’s party not lost congressional seats in the midterm, those years being 1934 following FDR’s New Deal policies and 2002 following 9/11.
Exit polling – polls of voters exiting their polling place about how and why they voted – indicated strong pushback nationally on several of the President’s policies, including his handling of the economy. This impacted many races up and down the ballot, even here in Oklahoma.
While no partisan shift in statewide offices or congressional seats happened, many elections were closer than in recent years. The most significant were six state House of Representatives seats held by Republicans shift to Democrats. One is in Tulsa and another (an open seat) is in Lawton, with the remaining four in Oklahoma County.
Most of the state retained conservative leaders, but voters also sent home many in the Primary Elections earlier this year who were “Freedom Caucus” members, leaving more moderate Republicans in their place.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s General Election voter turnout, right at 45%, remained one of the worst in the nation. Turnout declined in Oklahoma by about five percent when compared to the last midterm election in 2022. This was even after lawmakers added an extra day of early voting, allowing voters to cast in-person absentee ballots on the Wednesday before the election.
One deterrent was likely the “silly season” of accusatory commercials. Many ads discouraged voters and suppressed turnout by those who were simply disgusted with the whole process.
I appreciate the service of those who lost their elections, retired, or those who were term-limited; we at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) worked closely with many of them on youth policy issues.
With the elections concluded, the mission of OICA truly resets; we have many new officials to meet and share youth-related data to help shape their decisions. Our duty remains unchanged; we work with those who win elections, no matter what their party.
A large part of our work will be determined by whether Congress extends the penalty deadlines in the “Big Beautiful Bill” which soon take effect. The error rate requirements on social safety net programs and potential fines for failure to meet them could devastate state budgets nationwide. If not delayed, giving states time to properly modernize oversight, severe penalties will further diminish funding which supports Americans, including children.
Elected officials have a tremendous opportunity to ensure children are well-educated, have access to insurance coverage for improved health, to live safely from abuse, and to be properly fed all year long. I consider those the basics of our overall responsibility as a society. It will take leadership to focus on those topics, rather than other fodder which plays more into “gotcha” politics.
I am hopeful efforts will be made to deal with these real issues, both nationally and locally. We can argue about the width and breadth or how much with what is provided by government safety net programs, or even the role government should take with providing aid to those struggling. I contend if Oklahomans, especially at an early age, are not given opportunities for success, they will likely not achieve their fullest potential, further increasing governmental costs in the future.
It is not all on elected officials. If “We, the People” do not assume the responsibility to ensure our officials live up to that standard, no matter what their party affiliation might be, change will not occur.
OICA congratulates all newly elected officials who begin their service and those returning for another term. The voters have spoken, calling for better opportunities. We are ready to stand with you as you provide hope for the children of Oklahoma.
