(Correction: This article and its headline were updated at 10:52 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to include a candidate mistakenly left out of the original article. NonDoc regrets the error.)
(Update:Â On Tuesday, June 16, Republicans Jackson Lahmeyer and Mark Tedford advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff to represent Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District. Lahmeyer withdrew from the race the following day.)
After U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern decided to seek an open seat in the U.S. Senate, 10 candidates will appear on the June 16 Republican primary ballot for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District.
Hern is running to succeed U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, whom President Donald Trump named as his new Cabinet secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in March. Hern quickly jumped into the Senate race, leveraging the war chest he built after first winning an open CD 1 race in 2018 to become the frontrunner to replace Mullin.
Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District encompasses Tulsa and Wagoner counties, as well as parts of Creek, Rogers and Washington counties.
If no CD 1 candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the June 16 Republican primary, the top two Republican candidates will advance to an Aug. 25 runoff. The ultimate GOP nominee will face Democrat John Croissant in the Nov. 3 general election.
The following cheat sheet provides an overview of the Republican candidates running in CD 1 primary election and is derived from publicly available information, such as campaign websites, social media pages, news articles and podcast appearances. Candidates are listed alphabetically.
Nathan Butterfield
Age: 48
Profession/background: Nathan Butterfield is a fifth-generation Oklahoman and a small business owner from Claremore. According to his LinkedIn, Butterfield is primarily involved with real estate, storage and restoration service businesses. He is currently the managing partner at Hinfield Properties LLC, the president of M&N Properties LLC, the principal owner of Aimright Temporary Site Services, the principal and owner of Pak-all, and the principal owner of All-Star Disaster Restoration, Inc.
Butterfield is a member of the board of directors at Ascension St. John Medical Center. In terms of his education background, his LinkedIn says he received training from Utah Helicopter aviation school.
On May 19, News on 6 reported that Butterfield confronted a man for stealing his campaign signs. The man was later identified as Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin. A statement released by Butterfield’s campaign team referred to Lakin’s actions as “pathetic.” According to Lakin, the signs violated multiple city ordinances governing campaign signage.
Butterfield’s campaign team has since removed the initial post and has not commented further on the incident.
Platform: Butterfield was previously campaigning to succeed term-limited Rep. Mark Lepak (R-Claremore) in House District 9 of the Oklahoma Legislature, but he switched gears and announced his candidacy for Congress on March 26. His platform prioritizes funding the police, border control and the Second Amendment. According to his campaign website, Butterfield is pro-life and opposes the Green New Deal.
In a Jan. 7 Facebook post, Butterfield shared an image with text proclaiming, “Ban Sharia Law,” and he wrote that he opposes its use “in our courts.” In a post the following day, Butterfield wrote the he supports federal ICE agents. Butterfield favors small government and says he will support small business owners.
“Energy independence. Secure borders. The Second Amendment. Parental rights. Fiscal responsibility. These are the issues I’m running on, and it’s going to take real Oklahoma grit to deliver on every single one,” Butterfield wrote via LinkedIn.
Links: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
Jed Cochran
Age: 39
Profession/background: Jed Cochran is a fifth-generation Oklahoman from eastern Atoka County. He received a bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University and currently resides in Tulsa, according to his campaign website.
Cochran interned for former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and worked for the Republican Party under Chairman Gary Jones and Chairman Matt Pinnell. He managed Todd Hiett’s 2014 Corporation Commission campaign before becoming a political director for former U.S. Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK5) from 2014 to 2015.
Cochran was the northeast Oklahoma field representative and district director for former U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) from 2016 to 2019. He was chief of intergovernmental relations for Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum from 2019 to 2023.
According to his LinkedIn, Cochran is currently a partner at Capitol Ventures Government Relations, a lobbying firm with clients such as the City of Tulsa, the City of Bartlesville and Oklahoma State University.
Platform:Â Cochran has made multiple Facebook posts promoting his platform. In one post, he says he wants to pass congressional term limits and ban member stock trading. In an ad posted May 13 that makes no reference his background, Cochran calls himself a “conservative outsider” and refers to Congress as “the most luxurious retirement home in America.”
“We keep gaining momentum, and we are not slowing down. Patriots are paying attention. We need someone who is focused on delivering results for this district,” Cochran wrote in a May 16 Facebook post. “I’ll fight for term limits, ban insider trading, and bring Oklahoma values to Washington DC.”
In a statement posted to Facebook, Cochran listed additional priorities, including “advancing America First policies, promoting strong economic growth, strengthening communities and securing a strong future for Oklahoma.” He also posted an endorsement from former Tulsa Police Department Chief Chuck Jordan.
Links: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
Kim David
Age:Â 64
Profession/background: Kim David served the maximum three terms allowed as an Oklahoma state senator representing SD 18 from 2010 to 2022. After running for and winning a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in 2022, she now serves as its chairwoman.
According to her LinkedIn, David is the founder and owner of Sweetgum Properties, Inc. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum geology.
In the State Senate, David became the first woman in Oklahoma history to serve as floor leader, and she was one of the most vocal advocates for implementing third-party managed care for the state’s Medicaid programs. In 2021, remarks she made on that topic led to her being formally reprimanded by the Senate president pro tempore, something she initially denied but then acknowledged the next day.
In December, David and the other two members of the Corporation Commissioner declined to explain why they terminated Brandy Wreath as the agency’s administrative director. She again declined to discuss the decision in February.
Platform: David’s campaign website states that she wants to “secure the border” by enforcing immigration laws and “protect election integrity” by strengthening voter ID laws. David supports an “all of the above” energy policy, which uses a combination of various resources to meet energy needs. She has written at least two energy-focused opinion articles for The Oklahoman.
In a May 20 Facebook post, David wrote that she has proven her conservatism by authoring the state’s permitless carry law, passing pro-life legislation and banning critical race theory.
“I’ve spent my career fighting for conservative results — not just talking about them. As Senate majority leader and now as corporation commissioner, I’ve worked to defend Oklahoma values (…) Now, it’s time to take that fight to Washington,” David wrote.
In another post May 22, she suggested that other CD 1 primary candidates might be Republicans in Name Only — or RINOs.
“Oklahoma families are feeling it. The cost of living is still squeezing hardworking people every single day,” David wrote. “President Trump is fighting to change that. Tax cuts. Energy dominance. Cutting wasteful spending. The agenda is right and the direction is right. But he needs fighters in Congress who will stand with him and help get it done — not roadblocks, not RINOs, not people who talk conservative and vote differently. That’s exactly why I’m running. To be the vote President Trump can count on every single day to deliver real relief for Oklahoma families.”
Links: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
Nancy Dyson
Age: 72
Profession/background: Nancy Dyson was employed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for more than 30 years, according to the Tulsa County Republican Party’s website. She was previously president of the Cherokee County Republican Women’s Club and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northeastern State University. Dyson currently manages a $1 million rental property portfolio.
Dyson was a lifelong Democrat before switching parties in 2015, when she says she could not back Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Now identifying as a pro-Trump conservative, she helped establish and fund the Trump campaign office in Tahlequah.
Platform:Â The Tulsa County GOP website lists Dyson’s priorities as congressional term limits, connecting with the public at town halls and putting Trump’s agenda into law.
Dyson’s Facebook features multiple posts about gas prices, including an image she reposted May 19 that reads: “We had a choice between a nuclear armed Iran or a temporary spike in gas prices. And since some of you can’t decide if you’re a man or a woman, Trump made the decision for you.”
On April 23, Dyson reacted to Oklahoma Republican Party Chairwoman Charity Linch’s endorsing candidate Jackson Lahmeyer by “calling FOUL” on the endorsement.
“I am disappointed that Miss [Linch] would endorse anyone at this stage in the election process. I am very disappointed that candidate Jackson [Lahmeyer] would make this post,” Dyson wrote. “[T]wo questions — does he know the rules? If you’re considering voting for him, think about it. This rule is universal in our clubs. [C]lubs do not endorse anyone before the primary is over. He’s taking advantage and is not worthy of your vote.”
Links: Tulsa County GOP profile | FacebookÂ
Courtney Gill
Age:Â 33
Profession/background:Â Courtney Gill studied economics at Cambridge and received her MBA in finance and energy markets from Oxford University, according to her campaign website. Gill’s career has included work in venture capital, in the aerospace sector and at the World Economic Forum. She is a board member for Camp Loughridge, a Christian nonprofit offering summer camps in the Tulsa area.
Platform:Â Gill’s campaign website states that she is running for Congress to preserve the “American Dream.” Her platform prioritizes lowering the cost of living, addressing the consequences of increased artificial intelligence and increasing health care accessibility.
“It is about making life more affordable for your family. It is about standing up for what is right, even when it is hard. It is about protecting the American dream for the next generation,” her site states. “Gill is bringing that fight home to Oklahoma, to ensure a strong economic future for us all. The future is not decided for us. It is up to us.”
YouTuber Harrison Wolf introduced audiences to Gill via a May 20 podcast, during which Gill said she hyphenated her last name as Radcliffe-Gill when she got married and uses Gill for professional purposes.
In response, one podcast host laughed and asked Gill, “What kind of trash traditionalist are you?”
A few minutes later, Gill explained her views on feminism, saying that if a man’s single income could easily support a household and maintain satisfactory quality of life, many of her friends would choose to stay home with their kids and not work. She noted that women still do the vast majority of domestic labor, while also now being expected to hold full-time jobs. A podcast host accused of Gill of being a “progressive feminist,” but she disputed that characterization.
“The things that are hard for women haven’t changed. Women still have to be pregnant, women still have to breastfeed, women are still doing the vast majority of things that, even if you have a supportive partner, the man just can’t do,” she said. “If I’m going to be honest, for quality of life for most women, I don’t know that how feminism has come to be has made life better for most women. I think for a few it has, and I think you’re seeing that probably in the most well-educated sectors.”
Gill later said she is running for Congress because she is generally disappointed with self-serving politicians and to give younger generations hope for a brighter future.
Jackson Lahmeyer
Age:Â 34
Profession/background:Â A fourth-generation Oklahoman from Owasso, Jackson Lahmeyer is the lead pastor of Sheridan Church in Tulsa, according to his campaign website. He has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in theological and historical studies from Oral Roberts University.
Lahmeyer first sought public office when he ran against incumbent U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) in 2022, losing 68.7 percent to 26.4 percent. (A third candidate received 5.8 percent support.) This year, President Donald Trump has endorsed his campaign for the open CD 1 seat.
Platform:Â Lahmeyer is running for Congress to “secure the border,” “protect the First Amendment” and “fight for working families against inflation and government overreach.”
Lahmeyer, an Oral Roberts University graduate who grew up in the Pentecostal Holiness faith tradition, has received criticism for promoting what critics characterize as Christian nationalism, a label he said he embraces unless it is bestowed by the “left-wing media.” Lahmeyer discussed the topic with Carla Hinton of The Oklahoman.
“I don’t agree with the left-wing media and what they mean by a Christian nationalist,” Lahmeyer said. “When they label me a Christian nationalist, they mean I’m a domestic terrorist threat to the country, so obviously, I would fundamentally disagree with that. But the two words, if we were just to take the two words and define them — Christian, a follower of Jesus, (I’m) guilty as charged. So, I’m a follower of Jesus first and foremost. Am I a nationalist? My platform is ‘America First’ so I am a nationalist. Those two words on their own means, yes, I am, but am I a domestic terrorist threat? I would vehemently say no, I’m not.”
Lahmeyer has posted screenshots of threats he said he received via Facebook messenger. Lahmeyer said the messages represented the “VIOLENT LEFT,” with person calling Lahmeyer a “pedophile piece of shit” and another calling him “a pathetic religious hypocrite.”
The initial reference appears to stem from Lahmeyer’s first marriage. In 2010, he and his first wife received a marriage license noting that she was a “minor applicant.” Lahmeyer was 18 at the time. The couple divorced in 2016.
In 2021, according to a KTUL article, Lahmeyer used his campaign website to create an online petition against COVID vaccine mandates. The form was a “religious exemption,” which Lahmeyer claimed received nearly 35,000 signatures. He reportedly told petitioners for their exemption to hold any weight, they needed to be a member of his church and “support the ministry financially.”
Lahmeyer founded a group called Pastors for Trump. In early May, Trump endorsed Lahmeyer via social media, referring to him as a “MAGA Warrior.”
“A very successful Pastor, Businessman, and Civic Leader, Jackson has dedicated his life to serving his Community,” Trump wrote. “As your next Congressman, Jackson will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Promote our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advance American Energy Dominance, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Safeguard our Elections, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.”
Lahmeyer said he was “grateful” for the endorsement.
“President Trump knows I will fight to restore faith, defend Oklahoma values and advance President Trump’s America First agenda in Washington,” Laymeyer wrote in a May 7 Facebook post. “I look forward to delivering on the issues most important to voters including keeping the border secure, banning China from buying Oklahoma farmland and lowering costs for Oklahoma families.”
Links: Website | Facebook | XÂ
Paul Royse
Age:Â 55
Profession/background: On his campaign website, Paul Royse says he has lived in Oklahoma about 50 years and previously worked as an Office of Juvenile Affairs police officer, a private investigator and a business owner.
Royse unsuccessfully challenged Hern during the Republican primary for CD 1 in 2024. He received 4,504 votes, or 13 percent, of the total votes cast.
Platform:Â Royse’s website states that he wants to strengthen Social Security and Medicare and that he supports pro-life policies. While he is not running against Hern in 2026, Royse’s website still features criticism of Hern’s record, including his vote to approve of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
“While Kevin has done some good things and i applaud him, unfortunately Kevin voted ‘NO’ on a bill to help veterans exposed to burn pits and voted ‘YES’ on FISA, a spy on Americans bill. My dad was a pastor and veteran,” Royse wrote. “I lived on a military base at times when I was a kid. If elected, I will always have our veterans back.”
Royse thanked those who voted for him in the 2024 election and wrote that he will vote to tighten up America’s finances.
“I will be a true conservative Republican in Congress. Republican or Democrat controlled congress and the debt still goes up! Time for a change,” Royse wrote.
Mark Tedford
Age:Â 56
Profession/background:Â Elected to the Oklahoma Legislature after filing unopposed in 2022, Rep. Mark Tedford (R-Tulsa) is the current state representative for HD 69. According to his Oklahoma House bio, he received his MBA from the University of Tulsa and has worked in the insurance industry since 1992.
Tedford is a current member of the board of advisors at the Soldier’s Wish Foundation and the board of advisors for Home Church. He previously served on the board of the Tulsa Economic Development Council, the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce Small Business Connect and the Jenks Chamber of Commerce.
Tedford has run several pieces of insurance industry legislation during his time in the House, and in 2025 his presentation of SB 726 drew some controversy when he noted it was “a State Farm request bill.” The proposal, which would have exempted property insurance policies from a state law requiring a 15 percent interest calculation on claims paid out as a result of litigation against an insurer, failed 18-72 in the House.
Platform: According to his website, Tedford has used his time as a lawmaker to cut taxes and decrease illegal immigration.
Tedford is running for Congress to “work with President Trump to deliver an America First economy.” He prioritizes “combatting illegal immigration,” “eliminating wasteful spending” and “rebuilding American industry.” He is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, according to his site.
“I’ve spent my life building a business from the ground up, creating jobs and opportunity in the real economy. I’m running to bring that experience to Washington. Delivering results for working families, and standing firm in the conservative values that make this country strong,” Tedford wrote on his campaign website.
Kelly Walsh
Age:Â 36
Profession/background: Kelly Walsh received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Missouri University of Science and Technology, according to his LinkedIn. His campaign website states that Walsh currently works at Oklahoma Cannabis Testing Laboratories, where he tests medical marijuana for pesticides.
“I would very much like to win and influence policy and the industry, but if I don’t win, I have analytical skills that will never go out of style,” Walsh said.
Platform: Walsh’s platform uses the slogans “Principles Over Politics” and “Republican — Not MAGA.” According to his campaign website, Walsh wants to end foreign conflicts to increase affordability, demand enforcement of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and restore full constitutional protections for lawful cannabis users.
Walsh has posted videos on his campaign website in which he says he was tired of complaining about the candidates the Republican Party put forward.
“I wanted people to have a representative that they cared to vote for. I wanted a candidate that wasn’t about harm reduction, but somebody they were excited to vote for,” Walsh said.
Todd Woods
Age:Â 58
Profession/background: According to his LinkedIn, Todd Woods received an associate’s degree in business administration from Carl Albert State College. He is the founder and president of Woods General Contracting and is currently chief operating officer of Lions Gate Development Inc., which his campaign website states has been involved in rebuilding 26 communities after hurricanes. He is also a cattle rancher.
Platform: Woods’ platform centers around promoting working-class interests, with the tagline on his website reading, “Take back our country for working people.”
He says if elected, he will support policies that help families thrive, promote job growth, simplify taxes and limit regulations. He also aims to protect Oklahoma’s blue collar industries in agriculture, aviation and oil and gas.
“I will represent all constituents, not party bosses or special interests,” Woods said on his website. “Real leadership means listening and getting things done.”
His Instagram, like his campaign website, suggests he is tired of partisan divides limiting effective governance.
“[If you’re] tired of the far right and far left driving division, while hard working families are left to deal with BS and pay the bills, I’m your guy,” his Instagram biography reads.
On Facebook, Woods pledged to cosponsor legislation creating term limits for legislators.
Links: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
