(Update: View the livestream of this debate here.)
While the Republican primary field for state superintendent of public instruction is packed, the race to be the Democratic Party’s nominee is a one-on-one matchup between former El Reno Public Schools Superintendent Craig McVay and former Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member Jennettie Marshall.
In partnership with News 9 and News on 6, NonDoc is hosting a 2026 Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction Democratic primary debate between Marshall and McVay at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at the Embassy Suites in Norman. (A debate between top Republican candidates for state superintendent is scheduled for the prior night, June 2, at the same venue.)
Titled Education Equation, both debates are scheduled in coordination with the annual conference for the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, which are the debates’ presenting sponsor. Public seating is limited, so fill out this Google form to request a reserved seat to the Democratic candidate debate.
Co-moderated by Tres Savage of NonDoc and Haley Hetrick of News 9, the debate’s questions will be written and asked by professional journalists. The Frontier will lead fact-checking efforts.
Both state superintendent primary debates will be live streamed on the News 9 Facebook and YouTube pages, the News on 6 Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as the Facebook page of NonDoc.
According to his website, McVay has served on several boards outside of the education realm, including the El Reno Chamber of Commerce and Canadian County United Way. He also trains mules on a farm north of El Reno. McVay has been married for 42 years with two sons and six granddaughters.
Marshall has also been involved in the nonprofit sector, founding Reclaim Inc, which helps “struggling Tulsans navigate a better future,” according to her website. She is the founding pastor of Living Sanctuary Evangelistic Ministries. Marshall has three children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Other debates for #election2026
Sponsors of NonDoc’s 2026 debate series include Hilliary Communications, AARP Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS, McSpadden, Milner & Rott, the State Chamber of Oklahoma, the Scholars Strategy Network, Civitas Strategies and the ACLU of Oklahoma. Other charitable sponsorships for the debate series are available.
On May 18, NonDoc, News 9 and News on 6 are hosting a debate between the two candidates seeking the Republican Party nomination for attorney general.
On May 28, NonDoc is hosting a Republican primary debate among leading gubernatorial candidates in Lawton. Other debates for the 2026 election cycle are being planned.
Since 2018, NonDoc has partnered with other media outlets across Oklahoma to produce more than 40 public political debates for local, state and federal offices.
