(Update: View the livestream of this debate here.)
(Update: Owing to the tight race for state superintendent of public instruction, six Republican candidates — John Cox, Robert Franklin, Toni Hasenbeck, Debra Herlihy, Adam Pugh and James Taylor — are set to participate in the Tuesday, June 2, debate. The following article remains in its original form.)
In partnership with News 9 and News on 6, NonDoc is hosting a 2026 Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction Republican primary debate at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, at the Embassy Suites in Norman.
The GOP superintendent debate, titled Education Equation, is set to kick off the annual conference for the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, which is the event’s presenting sponsor. (A debate between the two Democratic candidates for state superintendent is scheduled for the following night, June 3, at the same venue.)
Seven candidates have filed to seek the Republican Party nomination for state superintendent. To qualify for participation in the GOP state superintendent primary debate, candidates must achieve top-four status in a publicly released, scientific poll — unaffiliated with any campaign or political party — released between 1 and May 22. If multiple polls are released showing different candidates among the top four spots, media partners will adjust the participation parameters.
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. Public seating is limited, so fill out this Google form to request a reserved seat to the Republican candidate debate.
When candidate filing concluded April 3, seven Republicans had declared their candidacy for the 2026 race:
- John Cox, former Peggs Public Schools superintendent;
- William Crozier, who ran for the office in 2022;
- Robert Franklin, an associate superintendent at Tulsa Tech;
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck;
- Debra A. Herlihy, a research analyst at Southern Nazarene University;
- Sen. Adam Pugh;Â and
- James Taylor, a teacher and pastor.
Candidates who do not meet the threshold to qualify will be receive a set of questions following the debate. Their answers will be published by NonDoc before the June 16 primary election.
Also titled Education Equation, the Democratic primary debate for state superintendent is set for 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 3. Former El Reno Public Schools Superintendent Craig McVay and former Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member Jennettie Marshall are the two Democratic candidates.
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.
