Articles
-
Law & Principles
California, Washington disprove claim that SQ 836 would ‘moderate’ politics in Oklahoma
Advocates of California-style “jungle primaries” insist the system moderates politics, but evidence from Washington and California shows the opposite. Since adopting open primaries, both states have only seen Democrats tighten their grip on power.Ryan Haynie | September 29, 2025
-
Law & Principles
SQ 836 would import California’s voting system, thwart Oklahoma conservatives
SQ 836 would replace Oklahoma’s traditional primary elections with a California-style “top two” system. If adopted, the measure could distort representation, silence conservative voters, and open the door for far-left policies to take hold.Jonathan Small | September 29, 2025
-
Law & Principles
Our rights come from God, not politicians
A Democratic U.S. Senator rejects the idea that Americans’ rights come from God rather than government. He doesn’t seem to understand that grounding our rights in government power would make them subject to shifting political winds.Jonathan Small | September 22, 2025
-
Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling opens door for California-style elections in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has cleared the way for State Question 836, a proposal to replace Oklahoma’s current party-primary system with California’s “top two” model.Ray Carter | September 16, 2025
-
Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court upholds Stitt’s remote-work ban
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Kevin Stitt’s order requiring most state employees to return to in-person work, rejecting a lawsuit from Democratic state Rep. Andy Fugate.Ray Carter | September 10, 2025
-
Law & Principles
Stitt deploys state troopers to tackle Tulsa crime, homeless encampments
Declaring that Tulsa leaders have failed to protect residents, Gov. Kevin Stitt has deployed state troopers to clear homeless encampments and curb rising crime on state-owned property inside the city.Ray Carter | September 4, 2025
-
Education, Law & Principles
How OSSAA undermines Oklahoma’s open-transfer law
Instead of letting kids play ball, OSSAA is playing games with families’ futures. Its latest move—banning four Glencoe transfers on shaky grounds—shows how the association often undermines Oklahoma’s open-transfer law.Jonathan Small | September 2, 2025
-
Law & Principles
We must get uncomfortable so others can be free
At the 33rd Annual Meeting of the State Policy Network, OCPA President Jonathan Small received the 2025 Thomas A. Roe Award for Excellence in Leadership. This article is a lightly edited transcript of his remarks delivered August 27 in New Orleans.Jonathan Small | August 28, 2025
-
Education, Law & Principles
OSSAA faces conflict-of-interest questions in Glencoe case
Four Glencoe High School basketball players were ruled ineligible by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA). The OSSAA board vote included members from rival Class A schools that could directly benefit from sidelining Glencoe’s athletes.Ray Carter | August 25, 2025
-
Law & Principles
If you hate the poor, raise the minimum wage
In Oklahoma, where market wages already exceed the state’s minimum wage, tying pay to big-city living costs in places like San Francisco would devastate Oklahoma’s rural economies.Jonathan Small | August 25, 2025