(Update:Â On Tuesday, June 16, Sen. Jack Stewart and candidate Tyler Herring advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff election.)
In a metro-area district with only one term under its currently configured belt, 76-year-old incumbent Sen. Jack Stewart will face two challengers in the Republican primary Tuesday, including one whose spouse and father in law are registered lobbyists.
Tyler Herring, 40, and Misty Shannon, 45, are competing to oust Stewart (R-Yukon) and bring new faces to the relatively new district, which was moved from the Wagoner County area to the OKC metro in 2022. Senate District 18 now spans the Canadian County and Oklahoma County line around Lake Overholser, covering Yukon and parts of Bethany, El Reno and eastern Oklahoma City.
Stewart won the seat over a familiar Capitol face — Hunter Zearley — in 2022, campaigning on the topics of transportation and public safety. Over his four-year term, he has voted against notable priorities of Senate Republican leadership, including measures supported by tribal nations, and has sometimes voted with the Freedom Caucus. As the fractured Senate GOP Caucus prepares for a fresh leadership vote after the 2026 election cycle, SD 18’s outcome could play a role in whether President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) retains power.
If none of the three candidates surpasses 50 percent of the vote June 16, the top two will proceed to a runoff Aug. 25. The ultimate GOP nominee will face Democrat Meredith McGinnis — an attorney and aspiring boxer — on Nov. 3.
The following SD 18 GOP primary cheat sheet contains information derived from public sources such as campaign websites and social media accounts. Candidates are presented in alphabetical order.
Follow @NonDocMedia on:
Facebook | X | Text or Email
Tyler Herring
Age: 40
Profession/background: Tyler Herring is a project manager whose campaign website states he has “spent 20 years in manufacturing and metal buildings” specifically. He went directly from high school into the workforce. A resident of Yukon, his website says he is active in his church and community.
Herring is the husband of lobbyist Brittany Adkins-Herring and the son-in-law of lobbyist Dennis Adkins. Through the firm AA-Advocates, the Adkins represent a variety of clients, including petroleum and health insurance companies and the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy.
Platform: Herring lists six campaign priorities on his website: lowering taxes, enforcing immigration law, getting schools “back to basics,” protecting election integrity, bringing common sense to a growing district, and defending “faith, family and Oklahoma values.”
He signed the Moms for Liberty Parent Pledge, a statement for elected officials intended to promote parental involvement in education. His website says schools should focus on “math, reading, discipline and preparing kids for life.”
In the press release announcing his run, Herring criticized other politicians for losing touch with their constituents’ needs.
“As costs rise and government grows, families are being squeezed,” Herring said. “We need leaders who will fight to cut taxes, protect homeowners, enforce the law and get our schools back to teaching reading, math and discipline.”
In a Facebook post about how his campaign “has always been powered by hard work and real commitment,” Herring indicated that he has been hitting enough doorsteps to be a viable candidate in SD 18, where just shy of 7,600 people voted in the open 2022 Republican primary.
“Even with the Oklahoma heat, my family and I are still out personally knocking doors and talking with people in the district; one conversation at a time,” Herring wrote. “Even after knocking on over 6,600 doors, I’M NOT SLOWING DOWN!!!! There’s nothing like hearing people’s concerns and sharing a little hope door to door. I’m grateful for every single person who’s taken the time to chat.”
Misty Shannon
Age: 45
Profession/background: Misty Shannon earned her associate’s degree at Oklahoma City Community College and additionally studied history at the University of Central Oklahoma, according to her campaign website. She was previously a stay-at-home mother to her three children, but after they grew up, she became a substitute teacher and Uber driver. She and her husband live in Yukon.
Platform: Shannon’s campaign slogan is “A Real Person for Real People.” On her campaign website, she says she hopes to address constituents’ concerns about “life issues” such as employment rates, career opportunities and affordability, along with data centers and infrastructure.
She wants to expand the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program — called Oklahoma’s Promise — to cover college fees in addition to tuition. Shannon also believes punishments for those who sexually abuse children should be more harsh.
Shannon describes herself on her website as pro-life, but she acknowledges circumstances where she believes a woman should be able to decide for herself whether she should have an abortion.
“In no way should abortion never be used as a form of birth control, but let’s be real, options for abortion need to exist,” she said. “Life of the mother, rape, incest should all be exceptions. No woman should have her choice of what she should do be taken away from her by the state.”
On June 7, Shannon posted about her campaign in the Yukon Happenings group on Facebook.
“Hi my name is Misty Shannon and I am running for state senate here in district 18,” she wrote. “I just wanted to share my information. I do not accept donations I do not want to take from anyone I only want to help. If you have any questions I would love to chat! Thank you for any your consideration. I really appreciate it.”
The post drew 41 comments, many of which involved a back-and-forth between her and a woman who asked additional questions about her stance on abortion. While the conversation initially grew “hostile,” it ended amicably. Shannon also responded when asked her opinion on a proposed data center that has spurred controversy in Yukon and a recall effort against the mayor.
“My position I believe is the same as the rest of us, a big fat NO! We do not have the resources for something like that,” Shannon wrote. “We are in a drought most of the time! The amount of water a data center needs and uses, we already buy 60 percent of our water from OKC. Not to mention the pull on our power. They can say they won’t pass the cost to us all they want but I think they probably would and then say the raise in cost was because of something else. I don’t trust them at all. We are a state of farmers and ranchers. We need our resources to live and provide for the people of our state.”
Links: Website | Personal Facebook
Jack Stewart (incumbent)
Age: 76
Profession/background: After graduating from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Jack Stewart spent 31 years with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, according to his campaign website. He then worked as a transportation unit manager for Carter and Burgess Engineering Company. He served three terms as Canadian County commissioner, and he was first elected to the Legislature at Senate District 18’s modern inception in 2022.
Since joining the Legislature, Stewart has split with Senate Republican Caucus leadership on a number of notable votes, including a 2023 veto override attempt involving tobacco compacts, a 2025 veto override attempt on a military omnibus bill, this year’s sports betting bill, and a procedural attempt to force a vote on immigration enforcement in Medicaid eligibility.
Platform: On his website, Stewart said he is most proud of legislation enabling counties contracted with third parties to go to a second bider if the first bidder failed to produce a quality product — an issue in a state where, until recently, counties were required to take the lowest bid among prospective contractors. He also said he is proud of a bill that increased the minimum cost of a construction project that mandates an architect inspection, making small construction projects cheaper.
Stewart said there is still “more to do” in an April 3 post, however. His ongoing platform includes “being the taxpayer’s best advocate,” “making the local government work for us” and “lessening government in our lives,” according to his website.
He intends to promote Oklahoman energy independence and “champion” state infrastructure.
In a May 5 Facebook post, Stewart acknowledged a texted survey insinuating “lies” about him.
“The lies have already begun!” Stewart wrote. “Someone must know that I can’t be bought or controlled and are getting a little desperate!”
