In The Know: Record outside spending on statewide primaries, SQ 832 | Second objection filed to rejection of state question for open primaries | Recent anti-immigrant policy proves Oklahomans are not the priority

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry.

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Recent anti-immigrant policy proves Oklahomans are not the priority   Several measures advanced this session did not address critical state needs but instead attempted to cash in on anti-immigrant rhetoric to score political points for the election among certain groups. Oklahoma is stronger when everyone – especially our elected officials – recognizes that immigrants are Oklahomans and vital to our community and economy. The policies they passed this year will prove detrimental to current and future generations of Oklahomans. [Gabriela Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy] NEW: OK Policy is now hiring a Tribal-State Policy Analyst!   We are hiring for a Tribal-State Policy Analyst to conduct research and analysis on Tribal-State policy in Oklahoma, in direct collaboration with OK Policy team members, Tribal partners, and Inter-Tribal organizations on Tribal-state-specific policy issues.    Deadline to apply is Friday, July 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (CST) Learn More & Apply 21%    Share of Oklahoma workers paid less than $15 per hour. The minimum wage does not just impact workers at the very bottom of the wage distribution; it exerts upward pressure for low-wage workers in general. Minimum wage increases create “spillover effects,” where workers above the new minimum wage threshold also see wage increases as employers keep wage ladders and seniority consistent in their firms. [Economic Policy Institute Wage Tracker] | [EPI Minimum Wage Myths vs Facts] What does current federal law say about minimum wages?   The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a “floor under wages” mandating that employers pay covered employees no less than a minimum hourly rate for all hours worked, whether they are paid on an hourly or salaried basis. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour—a rate set in 2009. FLSA minimum wage rules apply to all private businesses with annual revenue of at least $500,000, as well as hospitals, care centers, schools, and public agencies. [Economic Policy Institute] "If we want people to have incentive to work, and live with dignity, we need to require a decent wage. Many employers will only pay the minimum and use the government wage as their excuse. When our lawmakers don’t respect our citizens, then the voters MUST."   —Linda Phillips of Oklahoma City, writing in a letter to the editor in favor of State Question 832, which would gradually raise the minimum wage. [The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: SQ 832 Information and Resources | Fact Sheet Oklahoma News   Second objection filed to rejection of state question for open primaries in Oklahoma: A second objection has been filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court challenging the rejection of thousands of signatures collected for a state question for open primaries. Filed Wednesday by attorney Mark D.G. Sanders, the objection argues the Legislature is “killing off” Oklahoma’s initiative petition process through burdensome mandates and that Secretary of State Benjamin Lepak’s signature “purge” is both unprecedented and unconstitutional. [Oklahoma Voice]   Republican Primaries for Governor, Attorney General Drive Record Outside Spending: Open your mailbox, turn on the radio or fire up a network television channel, and you’ll likely be bombarded with negative ads attacking Oklahoma political candidates. Outside groups are flooding Oklahoma with a record amount of advertising ahead of the June 16 primary election. [Oklahoma Watch]   Spending on State Question 832 Exceeds $4 Million: Special interest groups and politically involved nonprofits are spending millions of dollars to influence Oklahoma voters on State Question 832, which seeks to incrementally raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2029. Since April 1, a mix of state question and political action committees have reported spending $4.17 million on state question communications. More than half of the spending has come from People for Opportunity, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization with strong ties to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. [Oklahoma Watch] Voter guide: What to know about State Question 832 before primary day [The Ada News] To confirm your polling place and view a sample ballot, visit the Oklahoma Voter Portal.  Editorial: Vote Yes on SQ 832: In the battle over the minimum wage in Oklahoma, the money has been flowing – to advertisers, but not to the workers. An opposition group has been arguing a proposal to increase the minimum wage would raise inflation and harm low-wage earning Oklahomans. There’s only one problem with that argument: inflation is already harming low-wage earning Oklahomans. Everything is going up – except our paychecks. [The Black Chronicle]   State Government News   Oklahoma regulator recommends a disputed mine expansion over the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer: A Department of Mines recommendation would allow a company to open a new mining pit over a fragile aquifer, despite concerns from residents who say the project threatens a critical water source and undermines the intent of a state moratorium. [The Frontier]   Capitol Insider: New World screwworms threaten agriculture, prompt state response: The discovery of screwworms in Texas has led to growing concerns about their effects on the agriculture industry and the U.S. economy. Experts predict that the spread of screwworms is inevitable, and states and the federal government are trying to figure out what to do about it. What is the state of Oklahoma's response to the threat? [KGOU]   Federal Government News   D.C. Digest: Mullin promises to “go find these kids”: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin accused the Biden administration of ignoring signs that thousands of unaccompanied minors entering the country illegally were being turned over to abusers. [Tulsa World]   Tribal Nations News   Osage Minerals Council recount results in incumbents' ouster: Results for the June 1 Osage Minerals Council election were overturned Thursday. Two candidates previously announced as winners will not move forward. [KOSU]   How Indigenous-led efforts in Oklahoma fill eagle conservation gaps, bring tribes together: Fifty-five eagles have been released from the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s Grey Snow Eagle House over the last two decades. Their Indigenous-led conservation efforts are part of a larger bald eagle success story. [KOSU]   New Osage program will help citizens get food from tribe's butcher, local farm: The Osage Nation is launching a new food assistance program. Recipients will receive $250 annually to spend at the nation’s Butcher House Meats and Harvest Land facilities, which were opened during the COVID-19 pandemic with the support of federal funds. [KOSU]   Voting and Election News   Oklahoma's GOP primary becomes next test of Trump's influence: Two packed Oklahoma primary races are testing the influence of President Donald Trump in contests where political revenge is not a motivating factor for the head of state’s support. [The Oklahoman]   When candidates loan money to their own campaign, who pays them back?: Mike Mazzei, a Republican candidate for Oklahoma governor, has personally loaned his campaign nearly $11 million. Three other governor candidates appearing on the June 16 ballot have also loaned themselves millions of dollars each. These candidates for political office have poured their own personal wealth into getting elected to office, but how will they get paid back? [The Oklahoman]   Tulsa church faces calls for IRS investigation over campaign support: A Tulsa church led by a congressional candidate is being accused of providing support and resources for its pastor's campaign — in violation of Internal Revenue Service rules for tax-exempt churches. Now, the Freedom From Religion Foundation has asked the IRS to investigate Sheridan Church where the Rev. Jackson Lahmeyer, a candidate for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District, is pastor. [The Oklahoman] Report: Scandal engulfs Trump's 'MAGA warrior' on election eve [The Daily Mail] Candidates Weigh Hypothetical Jail Time for Insurance Executives: Four Republican candidates for insurance commissioner appearing Tuesday on an OETA forum fielded a question on whether insurance executives found to have acted in bad faith should be subjected to potential incarceration. [Oklahoma Watch] What’s true, false and uncertain in the Oklahoma insurance commissioner race [The Frontier] Election Roundup See what’s on the ballot ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections [Oklahoma Voice] What's on my ballot? See candidates, races in Oklahoma's June 16 primary [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma voters all have at least one decision Tuesday at the polls [Tulsa World] 5 things to know before heading to the polls on Tuesday [Tulsa World] Two parties have primaries in Oklahoma state superintendent race [Tulsa World] SD 2: Sen. Ally Seifried challenged by Payton Pepin for Claremore seat [NonDoc] SD 10: ‘This election is about who is going to control the Oklahoma State Senate’ [NonDoc] Cheat sheet: Senate District 24 primary draws a crowd for Moore-area seat [NonDoc] Cheat sheet: Brady Butler, Rick Koch, Jessica Winegeart seek open SD 26 [NonDoc] SD 28: As Grant Green faces Robert Trimble, ‘swamp’ talk bubbles up [NonDoc] Cheat sheet: SD 32 incumbent Dusty Deevers challenged in Lawton-area bellwether primary [NonDoc] SD 34 cheat sheet: 3 challenge Sen. Dana Prieto in Owasso, east Tulsa [NonDoc] Senate District 36: Incumbent John Haste faces elusive opponent in GOP primary [NonDoc] Senate District 38: Joe Buchanan, Rick Vernon run for SWOK seat touched by tragedy [NonDoc] HD 65: Sam Mitchell, Carla Blue Weaver weigh rural impacts of possible reforms [NonDoc] Cheat sheet: 5 Republicans race to replace Rep. Chris Kannady in SWOKC’s HD 91 [NonDoc] DA District 20: Melissa Handke faces James Gilmartin for full term in 5-county seat [NonDoc] DA District 23: Incumbent Adam Panter, Mayor Daniel McClure clash over politics, experience [NonDoc] Cheat sheet: Familiar faces, special judge seek district judge post in southwest Oklahoma [NonDoc] Woods County associate district judge 2026 cheat sheet [NonDoc] Nowata County associate district judge 2026 cheat sheet [NonDoc] Republican county officials in Tulsa face primary challenges Tuesday [Tulsa World] Justice System News   Oklahoma County sheriff sues county jail trust, commissioners over inmate transports: Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III sued the jail trust, on which he serves, and the Board of County Commissioners in his dispute with both over who is responsible for getting jail inmates to court and back. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Where are Oklahoma County renters being evicted? New database offers answers: More than 40% of Oklahoma County’s eviction filings come from the same 100 properties. A list of those buildings, along with other insights about evictions in Oklahoma’s most populous county, is now being published on a regularly updated online platform. [KOSU] From OK Policy: Tenants continue to face an unbalanced eviction process with few protections against bad actors Tulsa wants faster path to revive vacant, abandoned properties: The city of Tulsa plans to take advantage of a state law passed last year to speed up the process by which vacant and abandoned properties can be restored into habitable dwellings. [Tulsa World]   This Oklahoma city is getting homes built twice as fast — and others want to copy it: Claremore is one of the leaders of a small but growing movement to change the wait for approvals to build new homes. The city has a catalogue of 29 preapproved architectural plans for houses, duplexes and small apartment buildings. Anybody who wants to build a house can ask the city to use the preapproved plans for free, and the city will give the builder a permit in just a day or two. [The Washington Post]   Economy & Business News   Oklahoma tourism draws billions in visitor spending: Millions of visitors from across the country came to Oklahoma last year, drawn by the 2025 NBA finals and subsequent parade, the 2025 Women's College World Series, festivals and celebrations, all of which generated a 2.4% increase in travel spendings. [The Oklahoman]   Tulsa County leads Oklahoma’s largest counties in wage growth: Employment grew in Tulsa County and wages increased across Oklahoma’s largest counties during 2025, according to newly released County Employment and Wages data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [The Journal Record]   Opinion: Oklahoma’s wind is ready. Its power grid is not: Oklahoma has built more wind generation than most states. It also has more to lose if the transmission gap isn’t closed. The state should treat transmission planning as basic public infrastructure, not as a side issue in the renewable energy debate. [Mezabahnur Masum / Oklahoma Voice]   Community News   Tulsa Food Not Bombs demonstrate a different kind of protest: Public protests often follow the same pattern - marching in the streets, holding signs, and chanting for change. Yet, Tulsa Food Not Bombs is taking a different approach -- and have been for years. [Public Radio Tulsa]   Virtual forum to spotlight resources for Oklahoma family caregivers: Two nonprofits will kick off a multi-state virtual educational series on caregiving in Oklahoma at 9 a.m. on June 17. The opportunity follows Oklahoma lawmakers' recent expansion of the state's caregiver tax credit. [KOSU]   Local Headlines Broken Arrow to consider data center moratorium at council meeting Monday [Tulsa World] Stillwater police sued again in civil rights suit over strip searches [The Oklahoman] Durant roadway will get new name after Choctaw Nation purchased potential ICE facility [KOSU] Support Our Work with a Donation In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive emails from us, please unsubscribe.