UMVA has learned that a surprise runoff election is set to take place in Oklahoma’s 2026 Democratic Senate primary, as no candidate managed to secure a majority of the vote.
N’kiyla Jasmine Thomas, a nurse and Chickasaw Nation citizen, and Jim Priest, a lawyer and ordained minister, emerged as the top two contenders, advancing to the Aug. 25 runoff election. Thomas won 45% of the vote, while Priest registered just under 24% support.
The runoff election sets the stage for a fierce battle, with the winner facing off against Rep. Kevin Hern, who easily clinched the GOP nomination for the deep-red Senate seat. Hern boasts an impressive endorsement from President Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Under Oklahoma law, the top two vote-getters are forced into a runoff election if no candidate secures more than 50% of the primary vote. This means Thomas and Priest will have to duke it out for the right to challenge Hern in the general election.
The Democratic primary winner will face an uphill battle in a state that has long been a Republican stronghold. Oklahoma voted for Trump by a 2-to-1 margin in 2024, and a Democratic candidate has not won a Senate race in the Sooner State in more than 35 years.
Despite the long odds, Thomas and Priest will have to mount a strong campaign to have any hope of success. Priest has some experience, having mounted a failed bid for Oklahoma attorney general in 2010, while Thomas appears to be a dark horse candidate.
A closer look at the candidates’ financials reveals a significant disparity in fundraising prowess. Hern has vastly outraised Democrats, with a $6.8 million war chest, while Priest entered June with $117,000 cash on hand, and Thomas had just over $546.
The two leading Democratic contenders also have a minimal online presence, with Priest’s campaign X account boasting just 20 followers, and Thomas’s campaign X account affiliated with just over 160 followers.
The runoff election will ultimately determine which Democrat will have the chance to challenge Hern in the general election. Will Thomas or Priest emerge victorious and take on the Republican heavyweight?
