Following a set of candidacy contestation hearings before the Oklahoma State Election Board today, Sen. Adam Pugh prevailed over a challenge to his candidacy for the state superintendent of public instruction position, while Rep. Trish Ranson successfully ousted a Republican challenger for HD 34.
Seeking statewide office with two years remaining on his State Senate District 41 term, Pugh (R-Edmond) will retain his place in the superintendent race after a challenge by Rep. Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin), who attempted to oust him by citing the part of the Oklahoma Constitution that prohibits legislators from assuming state offices by appointment or election if there was a pay increase during their legislative term.
In a press release following Thursday’s hearings, Hasenbeck said she intends to ask the Oklahoma Supreme Court to review the matter.
“I appreciate the State Election Board members’ service to our state. However, I obviously disagree with today’s decision,” Hasenbeck said. “Our challenge to Sen. Pugh’s candidacy is rooted in Oklahoma constitutional law. This is not the type of election-law challenge with which the Election Board typically deals. So that the constitutional questions we raise can be fully addressed, I will be immediately filing an emergency request with the Oklahoma Supreme Court to assume original jurisdiction in this case. I am confident that when our constitutional arguments are given full consideration by the guardians of both our state constitution and the integrity of our election processes — the Supreme Court — we will succeed.”
Hasenbeck also raised concern over the room of the Capitol where the hearing was held: Room 535, the Senate’s general assembly room.
“Finally, it should not be lost that this hearing and ruling occurred in the very Senate committee room which Adam Pugh chairs,” Hasenbeck said. “The constitutional provision is meant to prevent any pretense of corruption or insider dealings among candidates running for statewide office. It’s unfortunate that the board chose not to rule in this way.”
Pugh thanked the State Election Board for acting “swiftly and fairly.”
Spencer Habluetzel, Hasenbeck’s attorney, argued the November decision by the Statewide Official Compensation Commission to increase pay for a handful of statewide positions made Pugh ineligible. In making their motions, members attempted to avoid barring any sitting legislator from running for a state office, prefacing their statements by saying legislators deemed mid-term during the 2026 election cycle would not receive the increased salary should they win the offices they seek.
“This case is bigger than a candidate. It’s bigger than Sen. Pugh and Rep. Hasenbeck,” Habluetzel said. “This case is a test of the constitution. This clause does not get tested very much in Oklahoma.”
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The clause Habluetzel referenced rests in Article 5, Section 23 of the Oklahoma Constitution: “No member of the Legislature shall, during the term for which he was elected, be appointed or elected to any office or commission in the state, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during his term of office.”
While both Hasenbeck and Pugh hold legislative offices currently, Habluetzel argued that, because Hasenbeck’s term will end 15 days after the November election — as opposed to Pugh’s term ending in 2028 — the rule applies to him but not to her.
Heather Mahieu Cline, the chairwoman of the State Election Board, asked if Pugh voted on the pay increase. Habluetzel confirmed that he did not.
“It seems to me, if we adopted your position, that that would create a bright line and prevent many legislators from running for state office if we accepted your position. Do you agree?” Mahieu Cline asked.
Habluetzel, who briefly struggled with an easel and to articulate certain case citations during the day’s hearing, said that what he presented “has been the rule.”
Pugh’s attorney, Mike Fields, emphasized the compensation commission’s independence from the Legislature. While lawmakers historically set statewide official pay, the Legislature created the commission in 2025 to hand that authority to the same body of citizens that sets legislative pay.
“But even more importantly, there’s no evidence that Sen. Pugh would be eligible for the increase that was voted upon by the commission,” Fields said.
Ted Riley candidacy nullified in HD 34
Long-time incumbent Rep. Trish Ranson (D-Stillwater) challenged the candidacy of a Republican opponent, Ted “Theodore” Riley, based on the date of his voter registration for House District 34. According to law, candidates must be a resident and registered voter in their district six months prior to filing for office. Riley registered to vote in HD 34 on Nov. 5, more than a month later than the deadline to be registered six months prior to the April 1-3 filing period, according to Ranson’s petition.
Riley did not attend the hearing or file a response to the petition. Alana Haynes, Ranson’s attorney, told the board that when the sheriff attempted to serve Riley, it was refused.
Ranson will face only Republican candidate Aaron Means in November.
Asked for comment on her successful challenge, Ranson reiterated Riley’s registration date.
“Mr. Riley has not been a registered voter in HD 34 for the minimum requirement of six months to run for office,” Ranson said. “In fact, he’s not been registered to vote in Oklahoma before registering in 2025.”
Three other challenges to candidate qualifications were withdrawn prior to Thursday’s meeting.
