Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt has found himself at the center of a political debate after voicing support for a proposal that would radically change Oklahoma’s election system. The initiative, spearheaded by the group Oklahoma United, seeks to replace the state’s current primary election system with a California-style “jungle primary” system. Under the proposed structure, all candidates from every party would compete on a single primary ballot, and the top two vote-getters, regardless of political affiliation, would advance to the general election.
Holt, who endorsed the initiative, believes the open primary system could promote greater voter participation and foster more inclusive, bipartisan leadership. “Cities like mine in Oklahoma are known for their dynamic and effective governance, and the main reason is that we have an electoral system that allows everyone to vote. Our voters get to see all the candidates, and our candidates have to face all the voters,” Holt said in a statement supporting State Question 835. “The entire state deserves that same level of success.”
However, the proposal has sparked a significant backlash, particularly among conservative leaders in Oklahoma, who view the move as an attempt to undermine the state’s Republican stronghold. Opponents, including several high-ranking Republican figures, argue that the jungle primary system would dilute the influence of conservative voters and potentially benefit Democratic candidates.
The initiative has garnered attention for its emphasis on inclusivity, with proponents pointing to municipal elections in Oklahoma cities as evidence of its effectiveness. “That’s how we vote in every single town and city in the state of Oklahoma today,” said Margaret Kobos, founder of Oklahoma United, referring to the open voting system used in local elections. But despite the success touted by the group, voter turnout in these municipal races has been notably low. In Holt’s own 2022 mayoral race, for example, only 16.9% of eligible voters participated. Holt received 36,355 votes in a city of more than 372,000 registered voters, meaning roughly 90% of Oklahoma City’s electorate did not cast a ballot for him.
In stark contrast, turnout in Oklahoma’s general elections has consistently been higher. This year’s November general election saw a turnout of 64.42%, a significant increase compared to Holt’s local race. The 2022 general election, which featured the gubernatorial race, had a turnout of 50.35%.
Despite his support for the open primary system, Holt has a complicated relationship with the Republican Party. Though a registered Republican, Holt has distanced himself from some of the party’s more prominent figures. Earlier this year, he publicly stated that he would not support former President Donald Trump, instead expressing support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in what was seen by many as a critique of Trump’s leadership.
This alignment with more centrist or Democratic viewpoints has fueled concerns among conservative Republicans about the impact of the proposed changes on the state’s political future. U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Sen. James Lankford, both Republicans, have expressed strong opposition to the initiative. Mullin called it “a liberal attempt to weaken Oklahoma’s conservative voices,” while Lankford argued that Oklahomans already have sufficient options to vote in every election, negating the need for an open primary system.
Several Republican U.S. Representatives, including Josh Brecheen and Kevin Hern, also voiced their concerns, stating that the open primary system would not necessarily produce conservative outcomes. “It undermines the conservative ideology in Oklahoma,” Brecheen wrote on social media, while Hern stressed that only Republican voters should decide Republican nominees in the state.
The Oklahoma Republican Party has also been outspoken in its opposition to SQ 835. Chairman Nathan Dahm issued a press release condemning the proposal, asserting that it would effectively dismantle the state’s Republican primary system and weaken the voice of GOP voters. “The sole purpose of this effort is to dilute the voice of registered Republican voters in their own primaries,” Dahm said. “Forcing Republicans to allow Democrats or others to vote in our primaries is directly opposed to our Constitutional Republic.”
State Senator David Bullard, a Republican from Durant, went further, accusing the proposal of being a political strategy designed to shift Oklahoma away from its conservative roots. “Oklahoma spoke loud and clear that we are a conservative state,” Bullard said. “This proposal is a sure pathway to turning our state blue.”
Bullard also expressed concerns over the initiative petition process itself, suggesting that out-of-state liberal interests could be influencing the debate. He called for reforms that would make it more difficult for external groups to push initiatives in Oklahoma, such as requiring signature gatherers to collect signatures from a broader geographic range within the state.
As the debate continues to heat up, the fate of State Question 835 remains uncertain. Supporters argue that the open primary system could bring about more representative leadership and higher voter engagement, while opponents fear it could shift the state’s political landscape in favor of liberal candidates. With both sides passionately defending their positions, the issue is set to remain a point of contention in the lead-up to the vote.
