Dillon Cochran, Waynoka

Dark Money Poured Into Oklahoma’s Primary From the Governor’s Race to State Senate Seats

From April through mid-June, outside groups reported a record $25.9 million in independent expenditures in Oklahoma’s statewide primaries — nearly matching the $26.9 million candidates spent themselves. In legislative races, the outside spending added another $3 million. Most of it came from groups that don’t have to say who’s funding them.

As Keaton Ross and Maya Henry reported in a two-part Oklahoma Watch series available here (Part 1) and here (Part 2), the Republican governor’s and attorney general’s primaries attracted the largest sums. The Make Oklahoma Great Again PAC spent at least $3 million backing Gentner Drummond and opposing Mike Mazzei, including a since-pulled AI-generated ad depicting Mazzei alongside Hillary Clinton. School Freedom Fund Oklahoma countered with $3.1 million in ads against Drummond. Secure Oklahoma PAC spent $3.42 million in the attorney general’s race — after reporting just $1,000 in the bank in March.

At the legislative level, a PAC called Stand With Oklahoma registered 18 days before the election, listed a Nichols Hills shipping store as its address and routed its contact information to a Washington, D.C. consulting firm. It spent $380,000 attacking candidates, including more than $200,000 against incumbent Sen. Dusty Deevers — roughly $11 per registered Republican voter in his district.

Multiple targeted candidates said they would support legislation requiring outside groups to disclose at least one donor. All three GOP governor candidates who faced outside attacks told Oklahoma Watch they favor greater transparency. The Legislature has repeatedly failed to act. A 2025 disclosure bill stalled without a committee hearing.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has asked the Legislature to consider restricting AI in political advertising next year.

More worth knowing:

State Tourism Up 2.4% The 2025 Oklahoma Travel Impacts report, which examined tourism across 77 counties, shows the state generated nearly $12.8 billion in direct visitor spending, drawing roughly 50 million visitors in 2025. Tourism in the state supported 109,260 jobs, the report shows, and generated about 960 jobs in 2025, a 0.9% increase compared to 2024’s data. [The Oklahoman ▲]

Lahmeyer Acknowledges Inappropriate Messages A Tulsa pastor running for Congress says he crossed a line by texting a woman who is not his wife. The remarks came hours after a tabloid news site published text threads alleged to be between the Rev. Jackson Lahmeyer and Caitlin Key, a former Miss Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman ▲]

Quantum Space to Go Public Quantum Space, a company headed by Jim Bridenstine, former congressman and NASA administrator, will become a publicly traded company with a big boost via a New York-based investment company. The agreement means Quantum, based in Tulsa, will be a $1.2 billion company, initially building parts for satellites, then satellites themselves. [Tulsa World ▲]

OU Regents to Consider Tuition Hike OU Board of Regents will consider tuition increases, $420 million in construction project bonds and revisions to academic integrity policies during its meeting today. [OU Daily]

▲=Possible paywall

On June 16, 1908, 90 Oklahoma women gathered at the first library in Logan County and sewed the original state flag.

Go vote today!

Ted Streuli Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org