Oklahoma's primary election locks out too many voters. It's time for a change. | Opinion

As a lifelong Oklahoman, I grew up admiring leaders like Henry Bellmon — public servants who put principle over partisanship and worked to move our state forward. For those readers who may be too young to remember Gov. Bellmon, he was a war hero and Oklahoma’s first Republican governor. He was widely admired and still celebrated today as a pragmatic leader who put education, infrastructure, and economic growth above party loyalty. He spent considerable political capital to pass an education reform package that reduced class sizes, increased teacher salaries, and made significant investments in early childhood education, despite fierce opposition from his own party. In short, he was a statesman who consistently acted in the best interests of the people of Oklahoma, rather than for his own political gain.

Today, leaders like him would not stand a chance in a primary election, not because they lack vision, integrity or experience, but because Oklahoma’s closed primary system forces candidates to pander to the most extreme voices in their party rather than appeal to the broader electorate. Instead of rewarding problem solvers, our system today encourages political survivalists — candidates who appeal to the loudest voices rather than the broadest coalition. It is no surprise that many of our most capable leaders choose not to run for office at all. The system has made governing secondary to partisan battles, and the result is a political landscape that prioritizes loyalty tests over meaningful leadership.

This is why we need State Question 836, a constitutional amendment proposing an open primary system that ensures every voter — not just registered Republicans or Democrats — has a say in who represents them. Instead of separate party primaries where a small percentage of voters effectively decide the outcome, SQ 836 would put all candidates on a single ballot, and the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, would move on to the general election. This simple change would force candidates to appeal to a broader audience, rather than just the most vocal partisan factions.

Constitutional change needed to give all Oklahomans a voice | Opinion