Oklahoma Insights: April 2026 Edition

Capitol Dynamics - The March Madness of Lawmaking and a Newly Announced Budget Deal: March at the Oklahoma State Capitol is defined by the “Legislative Crossover" - the high-pressure deadline where bills must pass their chamber of origin to remain active. Over the last month, the halls were characterized by a frenetic pace as leadership winnowed down thousands of proposals. 

The general atmosphere has been one of cautious fiscal conservatism. With revenue

projections showing a stabilizing but not surging economy, the debate between across-

the-board tax cuts and targeted infrastructure spending has created moderate tension

between the House and Senate.

However, the two chambers and the Governor came to a consensus today and announced a budget deal has been reached - much earlier in the legislative session than is typical, largely due to it being an election year. Lawmakers are looking to adjourn early and hit the campaign trail. Look for an accelerated legislative session in the weeks ahead.

Federal Shakeup: Mullin to DHS: The biggest political earthquake this month was the U.S. Senate confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  Following his 54-45 confirmation vote on March 23,

Mullin resigned his Senate seat. Governor Stitt moved swiftly to appoint Alan Armstrong,

a veteran energy executive and former CEO of Williams Companies, to fill the

vacancy. Per Oklahoma law, Armstrong signed an affidavit pledging not to run for the

seat in the upcoming election. This ensures he acts as a "caretaker" senator until the

voters decide who will replace Mullin long-term in November. Armstrong’s appointment signals a sharp focus on federal permitting reform and energy independence, a move praised by the state's oil and gas sector but scrutinized by those hoping for a more career-political appointee.

Elections Watch: The Race for the Seat: With Mullin’s departure, the 2026 special election cycle has been compressed into a sprint. The formal filing period for this special election is underway now.  President Trump has already signaled his support for U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, which has effectively frozen much of the Republican field. However, several high-profile state leaders are still weighing a "now or never" jump into the primary. Mark your

calendars for the June 16 Primary and the August 25 runoff.