State senator, Senate District 42 (since 2018)

Brenda Stanley is a former public school teacher and principal of 43 years with degrees from Georgia College, the University of Georgia and the University of Central Oklahoma, and has served in the Senate since 2018². She is the Republican incumbent on the November 3, 2026 ballot¹.

Where they stand 9 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on Senate Bill 612, which made performing an abortion a felony except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency; the Senate passed it 38 to 9. (2021-03-10) source
  • Voted yes on all three Senate votes on House Bill 4327 on April 28, 2022 (34 to 9, 33 to 10 and 34 to 9), a bill which banned abortion from fertilization except in a medical emergency or a rape or incest reported to law enforcement, enforced through private lawsuits. (2022-04-28) source
  • Voted yes on House Bill 1168, which makes delivering abortion-inducing drugs for an unlawful abortion a felony; the Senate passed it 37 to 10. (2026-04-30) source
• GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on House Bill 2597, which allowed carrying a firearm without a permit; the Senate passed it 40 to 6. (2019-02-27) source
  • Voted yes on Senate Bill 1081, which bars Oklahoma cities and agencies from enforcing red flag laws; the Senate passed it 34 to 9. (2020-03-12) source
• Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on Senate Bill 2, which requires school athletic teams to be designated by biological sex; the Senate passed it 38 to 8. (2021-03-01) source
• School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on House Bill 1935, the version of the bill creating the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; the Senate passed it 40 to 7. (2023-03-30) source
  • Voted yes on House Bill 1934, the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, which created income tax credits of $5,000 to $7,500 per student for private school tuition; the Senate passed it 36 to 10. (2023-04-27) source
  • Voted yes on House Bill 3705, which raises the amount of Parental Choice Tax Credits that can be authorized for fiscal year 2027 and later; the Senate passed it 39 to 9. (2026-04-27) source
• Gender care for minorsNo, ban these treatments for minorsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on Senate Bill 613, which prohibits gender transition procedures for people under 18; the Senate passed it 40 to 8. (2023-02-15) source
• Ranked-choice votingNo, ban ranked-choice voting in all electionsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on House Bill 3156, which prohibits ranked choice voting in any Oklahoma election; the Senate passed it 37 to 8. (2024-04-24) source
• ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on House Bill 4156, which made being in Oklahoma without legal immigration status a state crime and required anyone convicted to leave the state within 72 hours; the Senate passed it 39 to 8. (2024-04-23) source
• DEI programsKeep support open to all, but end race or sex preferences and required statementsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on Senate Bill 796, which bars Oklahoma colleges from using state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion positions or programs; the Senate passed it 39 to 8. (2025-03-27) source
• Election rulesPhoto ID required, with current access otherwisemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on Senate Joint Resolution 47, which sends voters a constitutional amendment requiring proof of identity to vote; the Senate passed it 39 to 8. (2026-03-26) source
  • Voted yes on Senate Joint Resolution 48, a 2022 constitutional amendment requiring proof of identity to vote; the Senate passed it 41 to 7. (2022-03-22) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Religion in schools, China policy.