More than 100 of Oklahoma’s elected judges won reelection April 3 by virtue of being the only person to file for the job, with even a few open seats decided by default.
Of Oklahoma’s 152 elected judicial offices, 138 — about 91 percent — were elected without opposition in the 2026 election, with 14 of those judges taking their post for the first time without a vote.
Oklahomans will have six new district judges and new associate district judges after candidate filing closed.
Another 14 judicial races, which are nonpartisan, will see elections across the state. Races with three or more candidates will hold first-round elections June 16, and any candidate who secures a majority in June will win the seat. If no candidates secures more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two will advance to the November general election. In races with only two candidates, the only election will be held Nov. 3.
Oklahoma County (District 7) Office 10: Stallings draws challenge from Plunk
Incumbent District Judge Susan Stallings faces a challenger in attorney Warren Plunk for the only Oklahoma County judicial position to draw more than one candidate. Stallings joined the bench in 2018 after defeating incumbent District Judge Bill Graves.
Plunk’s campaign committee is chaired by attorney Joe White, which lead to Stalling’s recusal in the criminal case against the founders of Epic Charter Schools, one of whom White represents. The unusual move drew some rumblings that Plunk’s campaign was intended to remove Stalling from the case, which White denied.
“The fact that I’m involved in the Epic case doesn’t have anything to do with me serving as chairperson to Warren Plunk’s bid to unseat (her) and become district court judge in that district. I understand it’s District 7, Seat 10, I believe,” White said in November. “You know, I’ve grown up working as a criminal defense lawyer. What I saw happen in the Glossip case reinvigorated my desire to assist whoever might challenge that particular judge that was making certain rulings in the Glossip case that I clearly did not agree with.”
District 7 includes only Oklahoma County, and the election is set for November.
Tulsa County (Judicial District 14): Seibert unopposed, 3 offices on ballot
Attorneys in Tulsa County will notice that District Judges Daman Cantrell and Rebecca Nightingale did not file for reelection. Cantrell served as a special judge for Tulsa County from 1999 to 2006 and as district judge since 2006. He is well known for coaching mock trial teams in Tulsa County, and he taught a judicial externship class for the University of Tulsa College of Law.
For Office 4 covering the northern part of Tulsa County, three attorneys have filed to succeed Cantrell on the bench: Dustin Allen, Loretta Radford and Phillip Peak. The Office 4 race is the only Tulsa County judicial election that will appear on the June 16 ballot. Allen is a former prosecutor with the endorsement of Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, as well as the police unions for Owasso, Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Skiatook. Radford has served as an appointed special judge for Tulsa County since 2022, before which she served on Oklahoma County’s jail trust. Peak is an assistant district attorney for Rogers County who previously worked for the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office.
Nightingale, who is departing Office 11, started her career as a prosecutor before she was elected district judge in 2002. In 2019, she was the first woman to serve as the presiding judge for Tulsa County. She will be succeeded in Office 11 by Special Judge April Seibert, who filed for the seat unopposed. Seibert was first appointed to the bench in 2017.
Incumbent Office 1 District Judge Caroline Wall drew an opponent, with attorney Tom Sawyer also filing for the seat. Wall has served as a district judge since 2014, while Sawyer is a Creek County assistant district attorney.
Incumbent Office 12 District Judge Kevin Gray, who drew criticism for his involvement in the Tulsa County Juvenile Justice Center scandal, also drew an opponent in Christopher Camp. Gray is a former prosecutor who was first elected in 2022, while Camp is a Tulsa-based attorney who has represented the estate of Bobby Barrick in his family’s civil rights lawsuit.
Both Office 1 and Office 12 will appear on the November ballot.
Northwest Oklahoma: Edwards challenges incumbent Woodward
In Judicial District 4 spanning northwest Oklahoma, Office 2 District Judge Paul Woodward will face attorney Eric Edwards of Enid in the November election. While District 4 spans six counties, Office 2 includes Blaine, Garfield, Grant and Kingfisher counties.
Woodward was first elected in 2010, and he previously served as a special judge before his election. Edwards has previously run for judicial office in 2018.
Along with other district judges, Woodward has drawn some criticism for retaining Brian Lovell as a special judge after Lovell had an affair with Woodward’s bailiff in 2011. Lovell later became associate district judge, had an affair with another of Woodward’s bailiffs and resigned citing a dementia diagnosis that helped him receive a deferred sentence for discharging a firearm at his brother in law’s house in Garfield County. (Lovell has also pleaded on a criminal charge for a shooting in Texas, for which he faces a sentencing hearing June 3.)
District 5, Office 1: Quartet file for open judgeship
In southwest Oklahoma, four candidates are seeking to succeed District Judge Emmit Tayloe in adjudicating cases for Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson and Stephens counties. Neil West, Christine Galbraith, Steven Crow and Tommy Sims will all appear on the June 16 ballot.
West is a former assistant city attorney and assistant district attorney. Galbraith has been a special judge for Comanche County since 2023. Crow is an attorney licensed in Oklahoma since 1994, while Sims has been licensed since 1988.
Crow, Sims and West all ran for District 5, Office 3 in 2022, losing to Jay Walker.
If no candidate receives more than 50 percent support in the June election, the top two finishers will face off on the November ballot.
District 8: Turner draws two challengers
In Kay and Noble counties, incumbent District Judge Lee Turner is facing two challengers in his bid for reelection to a third term. Turner was first elected in 2018, and he previously served as a special judge from 2012 until his election.
Attorneys Rob Davis and Scott Loftis filed to challenge Turner, setting up a June election between the three and a potential November runoff if no candidate secures a majority.
Davis is from Ponca City and is an assistant district attorney for Kay and Noble counties, according to his campaign website. Loftis appears to be running as a conservative challenger, unusual for nonpartisan judicial elections, with his campaign announcement touting ties to the Federalist Society and the Christian Legal Society, as well as a “conservative law and order” focus.
District 23, Office 2: Costa and Officer file for open seat
In Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties, incumbent District Judge John Canavan Jr. is retiring, leaving Joseph Costa and Troy Officer competing for his open seat. Canavan has served in office since he was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in 2010. Before that, he was the district attorney for District 23 from 1996 to 2010 and the city attorney for Shawnee. He has faced scrutiny for refusing to remove Special Judge Emily Mueller from the bench despite the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s public reprimand and a finding of “bias.”
Costa is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and a former assistant district attorney for Tulsa County. His current law practice is based out of Shawnee. Officer also practices in Shawnee and is a Baylor Law School alumnus. Both are relatively new attorneys, with Costa licensed in 2020 and Officer licensed in 2021.
Alfalfa County ADJ: Incumbent Angle draws 2 challengers
Alfalfa County Associate District Judge Loren Angle, first elected in 2002, drew two challengers for his judgeship. Municipal Judge Megan Hickman and assistant district attorney Brian Mitchell both filed against Angle, setting up a June 16 election.
Hickman is the municipal judge for the City of Cherokee, while Mitchell is an assistant district attorney for District 26.
Angle’s reelection campaign slogan makes a simple claim: “A good man doing a good job.”
Kiowa County ADJ: Eastwood seeks to replace incumbent Marsh
Kiowa County Associate District Judge Rick Marsh drew an election challenge from municipal judge Kyle Eastwood. Marsh was first elected in 2018, while Eastwood is the municipal judge for Verden and Binger.
Logan County ADJ: Pfieffer, Vaughan compete for open seat
Logan County Associate District Judge Luke Duel died in November, leaving the seat open for the 2026 election. Special Judge Diane Vaughan, first appointed in 2022, is facing Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation deputy general counsel Sierra Pfeiffer in the November election to fill the seat.
Nowata County ADJ: Trio tango for open seat
Nowata County Associate District Judge Carl Gibson, first elected in 2002, did not file for reelection this year. Linda Branstetter, Tanayia Hubler and James Pfeffer all filed for the office, setting up a June election.
Washington County ADJ: Cone, Gentes seek open seat
In Washington County, incumbent Associate District Judge Russell Vaclaw filed for a district judge seat, leaving the ADJ seat open.
Municipal judges Todd Cone and Alan Gentges both filed for the post, setting up a November election. Cone has served as the municipal judge for Nowata and Oologah, while Gentges is a former Bartlesville City Council member and municipal judge.
Woods County ADJ: 3 target open seat
In Woods County, Associate District Judge Mickey Hadwiger, first elected in 2002, did not file for reelection.
Westline Ritter, Drew Cunningham and Jeremy Bays all filed for the seat, setting up a June election. Ritter is an assistant district attorney, while Cunningham is a public defender and city attorney for Alva. Bays is an attorney in Alva.
Retirements result in new 6 new district judges elected by default
While those 14 judicial races will appear on ballots around the state, a half-dozen candidates — including Seibert in Tulsa County — will become district judges by default after no one else filed for their seats.
Special Judge Jason Seigars, first appointed in 2017, was elected district judge for Blaine, Garfield, Grant and Kingfisher counties (District 4, Office 3). He will succeed District Judge Tom Newby, who retired earlier this year after serving in office since 2022.
Special Judge Carrie Hixon, first appointed in 2023, was elected district judge for Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson and Stephens counties (District 5, Office 2). She will succeed District Judge G. Brent Russell, who did not file for reelection since winning the seat in 2022.
Special Judge Katherine Thomas will replace District Judge Jason Reese in Payne and Logan counties (District 9) after he did not file for reelection. Reese was appointed to his current office by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2024. Although Reese filed a candidate committee for 2026 and raised $10,500, he ultimately did not file in April. Curiously, his first quarter campaign finance report lists $500 spent on candidate filing despite the fact Reese — who submitted an infamous error on a campaign report during a prior legislative run — did not file.
Associate District Judge Russell Vaclaw will succeed District Judge Linda Thomas in adjudicating cases for Nowata and Washington counties (District 11). Thomas was elected in 2018 and first sworn in by Vaclaw, while he has been the associate district judge for Washington County since 2006.
Prosecutor William Cosner will replace District Judge Jeff Payton in deciding cases in Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties (District 15, Office 3). Payton had served as district judge since his election in 2006 and was previously a special judge from 2001 until his election. Cosner previously worked as an assistant district attorney in the district, as well as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He most recently worked as a chief deputy prosecutor in Arkansas, according to a campaign announcement.
8 new associate district judges elected by default
Delaware County Associate District Judge Dave Crutchfield will be succeeded by Clayton Baker after he did not file for reelection. Crutchfield was first elected in 2018, while Baker has worked as a municipal judge for Bernice, Fairland and Afton.
Harmon County Associate District Judge W. Mike Warren will be replaced by Kelissa Sanders after he did not file for reelection. Warren had served on the bench since his election in 1990, making him the longest-serving active elected judge in Oklahoma at the time of his retirement. Sanders joined the Oklahoma Bar Association in 2017 and applied to the Judicial Nominating Commission to fill a vacancy in Jackson County.
In Jefferson County, Andrew Benedict will succeed Associate District Judge Dennis Gay, who has served in office since 2010. Benedict is an attorney admitted to the bar in 2013.
In McClain County, Lori Puckett will replace Associate District Judge Charles Gray, who has served in office since 2006. Puckett has served as a special judge in the county since 2023.
In Okmulgee County, private practice attorney Javier Ramirez, a member of the bar since 2000, will succeed Associate District Judge Cynthia Pickering, who was first elected in 2014 and previously served as a special judge from 2007 until her election.
In Pittsburg County, Mindy Beare will succeed Associate District Judge Tim Mills, who has served in office since 2014. Beare has served as a special judge since 2015.
In Rogers Mills County, Julia O’Neal will replace Associate District Judge Pat VerSteeg, who has appointed to the office by Gov. Brad Henry in 2008. O’Neal is currently president of the Roger Mills County Bar Association.
In Texas County, Assistant District Attorney Ryan Reddick will succeed Associate District Judge Alfred Jett, who was first appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2012.
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124 judges reelected by default
The following judges were all reelected by default after filing unopposed:
- Jon Parsley, district judge for Beaver, Cimarron, Harper and Texas counties (District 1), appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin in 2014;
- Donna Dirickson, district judge for Beckham, Custer, Ellis, Roger Mills and Washita counties (District 2), appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2024;
- Rafe Hall, district judge for Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa and Tillman counties (District 3), appointed by Stitt in 2023;
- Justin Eilers, district judge for Alfalfa, Dewey, Major, Woods and Woodward counties (District 4, Office 1), first elected in 2014;
- Jay Walker, district judge for Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson and Stephens counties (District 5, Office 3), first elected in 2022.
- Scott Meaders, district judge for Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson and Stephens counties (District 5, Office 4), appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- Grant Shepherd, district judge for Comanche, Cotton, Jefferson and Stephens counties (District 5, Office 5), first elected in 2022;
- Kory Kirkland, district judge for Caddo and Grady counties (District 6), appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- Lydia Green, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in 2025;
- Kaitlyn Allen, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 2), appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- Amy Palumbo, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 3), first elected in 2018;
- Kenneth Stoner, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), appointed by Fallin 2018;
- Natalie Mai, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 5), first elected in 2018;
- C. Brent Dishman, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 6), appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- Cindy Truong, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 7), first elected in 2010;
- Heather Coyle, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), first elected in 2018;
- Anthony Bonner, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- Richard Ogden, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- Sheila Stinson, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), appointed by Stitt in 2020;
- Nikki Kirkpatrick, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- Kathryn Savage, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), first elected in 2022;
- Don Andrews, district judge for Oklahoma County (District 7, Office 4), first elected in 2014;
- Stuart Tate, district judge for Osage County (District 9), appointed by Stitt in 2020;
- Shawn Taylor, district judge for Craig and Mayes counties (District 12, Office 1), first elected in 2018;
- Lara Russell, district judge for Craig, Mayes and Rogers counties (District 12, Office 2), first elected in 2022;
- Stephen Pazzo Jr., district judge for Rogers County (District 12, Office 3), first elected in 2018;
- Jennifer McAffrey, district judge for Delaware and Ottawa counties (District 13), first elected in 2022;
- Sharon Holmes, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 2), first elected in 2014;
- Tracy Priddy, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 2), first elected in 2018;
- Michelle Bodine-Keely, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 5), appointed by Stitt in 2020;
- Kelly Greenough, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 6), appointed by Fallin in 2016;
- William LaFortune, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 7), a former Tulsa mayor first elected in 2014;
- Doug Drummond, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 8), first elected in 2014;
- Richard Hathcoat, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 9), appointed by Stitt in 2023;
- Dawn Moody, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 10), first elected in 2018;
- David Guten, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 13), first elected in 2022;
- Kurt Glassco, district judge for Tulsa and Pawnee counties (District 14, Office 14), appointed by Gov. Brad Henry in 2009;
- Tim King, district judge for Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties (District 15, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in 2019;
- Douglas Kirkley, district judge for Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties (District 15, Office 2), first elected in 2018;
- Bret Smith, district judge for Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties (District 15, Office 4), first elected in 2018;
- Jonathan Sullivan, district judge for Haskell, Latimer and LeFlore counties (District 16), first elected in 2010;
- Emily Maxwell, district judge for Choctaw, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties (District 17), first elected in 2022;
- Mike Hogan, district judge for McIntosh and Pittsburg counties (District 18), first elected in 2018;
- Mark Campbell, district judge for Bryan County (District 19), appointed by Henry in 2005;
- Carson Michael Brooks, district judge for Carter, Johnston, Love, Marshall and Murray counties (District 20, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in October;
- Wallace Coppedge, district judge for Carter, Johnston, Love, Marshall and Murray counties (District 20, Office 2), first elected in 2010;
- Michael Tupper, district judge for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties (District 21, Office 1), appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- Leah Edwards, district judge for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties (District 21, Office 2), appointed by Fallin in 2015;
- Thad Balkman, district judge for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties (District 21, Office 1), appointed bRy Fallin in 2013;
- Lynne McGuire, district judge for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties (District 21, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in 2023;
- Jeff Virgin, district judge for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties (District 21, Office 1), first elected in 2014;
- Brett Butner, district judge for Hughes, Pontotoc and Seminole counties (District 22, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in 2024;
- Steve Kessinger, district judge for Hughes, Pontotoc and Seminole counties (District 22, Office 2), first elected in 2014;
- Sarah Bridge, district judge for Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties (District 23, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in 2024;
- Robert Getchell, district judge for Creek, Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties (District 24, Office 1), appointed by Stitt in June;
- Lawrence Parish, district judge for Creek, Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties (District 24, Office 2), appointed by Henry in 2004;
- Pandee Ramirez, district judge for Creek, Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties (District 24, Office 3), appointed by Stitt in 2020;
- Kelly Hake, district judge for Creek, Okfuskee and Okmulgee counties (District 24, Office 4), first elected in 2018;
- D. Clay Mowdy, district judge for Atoka and Coal counties (District 25), first elected in 2014;
- Paul Hesse, district judge for Canadian County (District 26, Office 1), appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- Khristan Strubhar, district judge for Canadian County (District 26, Office 2), first elected in 2022;
- Liz Brown, associate district judge for Adair County, first elected in 2002;
- Preston Harbuck, associate district judge for Atoka County, first elected in 2010;
- Abby Cash, associate district judge for Beaver County, first elected in 2022;
- Michelle Roper, associate district judge for Beckham County, first elected in 2010;
- Allison Lafferty, associate district judge for Blaine County, first elected in 2018;
- Abby Rogers, associate district judge for Bryan County, first elected in 2022;
- Wyatt Hill, associate district judge for Caddo County, appointed by Henry in 2004;
- Bob Hughey, associate district judge for Canadian County, first appointed by Henry in 2008;
- Ryan Hunnicutt, associate district judge for Carter County, first elected in 2022;
- Joshua King, associate district judge for Cherokee County, first elected in 2018;
- Bill Baze, associate district judge for Choctaw County, appointed by Fallin in 2014;
- Christine Larson, associate district judge for Cimarron County, appointed by Stitt in 2019;
- Bethany Stanley, associate district judge for Cleveland County, appointed by Stitt in 2020;
- Joe Trail, associate district judge for Coal County, first elected in 2022;
- Lisa Shaw, associate district judge for Comanche County, first elected in 2014;
- Michael Flanagan, associate district judge for Cotton County, first elected in 2006;
- Joseph Gardner, associate district judge for Craig County, first elected in 2018;
- Laura Farris, associate district judge for Creek County, appointed by Stitt in 2020;
- Dana Hada, associate district judge for Custer County, appointed by Stitt in May;
- Celo Harrel, associate district judge for Dewey County, first elected in 2018;
- Laurie Hays, associate district judge for Ellis County, first elected in 2014;
- Sean Hill, associate district judge for Garfield County, appointed by Stitt in 2025;
- Laura McClain, associate district judge for Garvin County, first elected in 2022;
- Z. Joseph Young, associate district judge for Grady County, first elected in 2018;
- Jeff Crites, associate district judge for Grant County, first elected in 2022;
- Eric Yarborough, associate district judge for Greer County, first elected in 2014;
- Aric Alley, associate district judge for Harper County, first elected in 2014;
- Brian Henderson, associate district judge for Haskell County, first elected in 2006;
- Trisha Smith, associate district judge for Hughes County, first elected in 2018;
- Sommer Robbins, associate district judge for Jackson County, appointed by Stitt in 2024;
- Laura Corbin, associate district judge for Johnston County, appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- David Bandy, associate district judge for Kay County, first elected in 2014;
- Lance Schneiter, associate district judge for Kingfisher County, first elected in 2018;
- Margaret Nicholson, associate district judge for Latimer County, appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- Marion Fry, associate district judge for LeFlore County, first elected in 2014;
- Joe Dobry, associate district judge for Lincoln County, appointed by Stitt in 2024;
- T. Todd Hicks, associate district judge for Love County, first elected in 2014;
- Timothy Haworth, associate district judge for Major County, first elected in 2010;
- Gregory Johnson, associate district judge for Marshall County, appointed by Fallin in 2011;
- Rebecca Gore, associate district judge for Mayes County, first elected in 2018;
- Tim Ragland, associate district judge for McCurtain County, first elected in 2022;
- Brendon Bridges, associate district judge for McIntosh County, first elected in 2018;
- Kristin Jarman, associate district judge for Murray County, appointed in February;
- Orvil Loge, associate district judge for Muskogee County, first elected in 2022;
- Nikki Leach, associate district judge for Noble County, appointed by Fallin in 2014;
- Maxey Reilly, associate district judge for Okfuskee County, appointed by Fallin in 2017;
- Angela Singleton, associate district judge for Oklahoma County, first elected in 2022;
- Burl Estes, associate district judge for Osage County, appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- R. Matt Whalen, associate district judge for Ottawa County, first elected in 2022;
- Patrick Pickerill, associate district judge for Pawnee County, appointed by Fallin in 2013;
- Michael Kulling, associate district judge for Payne County, first elected in 2022;
- Lori Jackson, associate district judge for Pontotoc County, first elected in 2014;
- Tracy McDaniel, associate district judge for Pottawatomie County, first elected in 2018;
- Nicholas Tucker, associate district judge for Pushmataha County, appointed by Stitt in 2024;
- Susan Nigh, associate district judge for Rogers County, appointed by Stitt in 2021;
- Christopher Anderson, associate district judge for Seminole County, appointed by Stitt in 2025;
- Kyle Waters, associate district judge for Sequoyah County, first elected in 2014;
- Lawrence Wheeler, associate district judge for Stephens County, first elected in 2022;
- Brad Benson, associate district judge for Tillman County, appointed by Henry in 2009;
- Todd Chesbro, associate district judge for Tulsa County, appointed by Stitt in August.
- Rebecca Hunter, associate district judge for Wagoner County, first elected in 2022;
- S. Brooke Gatlin, associate district judge for Washita County, first elected in 2022; and
- Erin Kirksey, associate district judge for Woodward County, appointed by Stitt in 2020.
(Correction: This article was updated at 9:50 a.m. Thursday, May 14, to correct biographic reference to Rob Davis.)
