Two candidates, N’kiyla Jasmine Thomas and Jim Priest, will compete in a runoff election for the Democratic Senate primary in Oklahoma on August 25, 2026, after neither secured a majority of the vote. Thomas received 45% of the votes, while Priest garnered just under 24%. The winner will face Republican Rep. Kevin Hern, who has secured the GOP nomination without a runoff. Hern is endorsed by President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Under Oklahoma law, a runoff is required if no candidate receives more than 50% of the primary vote. The current senator, Alan Armstrong, was appointed to the seat and cannot run for a full term. The Democratic primary winner faces challenges in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in over 35 years and voted for Trump by a significant margin in 2024. National Democratic organizations have not invested in this race, indicating low expectations for a potential party flip.
Priest previously ran for Oklahoma attorney general in 2010 but lost by 20 points. He has led two nonprofits, while Hern has raised significantly more funds, with $6.8 million compared to Thomas's $546 and Priest's $117,000 cash on hand. Both leading Democratic candidates have limited online presence, with Priest's campaign account having 20 followers and Thomas's account having over 160.