Who is running for Oklahoma House, District 79 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Oklahoma House, District 79 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Oklahoma House District 79.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Paul HassinkRepublican | Melissa ProvenzanoDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | No public position | Raise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingSaid · medium |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestQuestionnaire answer · low | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low |
| Guns | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Immigration | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadySaid · low | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familySaid · low | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Election rules | Photo ID required, with current access otherwiseSaid · medium | No single answer fits; see evidence |
| Redistricting | No public position | Independent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingQuestionnaire answer · medium |
| Transgender athletes | No, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionsSaid · low | No single answer fits; see evidence |
Paul Hassink
RepublicanRepublican candidate; retired electrical engineer
Paul Hassink is an engineer with a bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech and a master's from Purdue who spent about 40 years in the electric utility industry23. He says he is a three-time Republican nominee for House District 79 and a member of the Tulsa County Republican Party state committee2. He faces Democratic incumbent Melissa Provenzano1.
Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site calls the right to bear arms a fundamental pillar of liberty. (2024) source
Election rulesPhoto ID required, with current access otherwisemedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says only eligible, verifiable voters should participate, through rigorous maintenance of voter rolls and mandatory voter identification. (2024) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Questionnaire answer · low confidence- In a 2026 Ballotpedia survey he wrote that he and his wife are committed pro-life Christians and called the assault on children from trafficking to abortion unacceptable. (2026) source
- His campaign site says he and his wife are committed pro-life Christians and that he believes in protecting life's sanctity at every stage. (2026) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familylow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site faults Representative Provenzano for voting no on House Bill 1934, the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, which it says increases parental control over educational choices and supports families financially in pursuing the best education for their children. (2025) source
Transgender athletesNo, teams should be based on biological sex, with open or coed optionslow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site faults Representative Provenzano for voting no on House Bill 1449, which it describes as clarifying that biological sex is determined at birth, and says her vote left the door open to boys and men on girls' and women's athletic teams. (2025) source
ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadylow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site faults Representative Provenzano for voting no on House Bill 3195, which it says strengthened cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities on detainer requests. (2025) 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, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, 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, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Melissa Provenzano
Democrat · IncumbentState representative, House District 79
Melissa Provenzano, a Tulsa Democrat and former public school teacher and administrator, represents House District 79 and has served as assistant minority leader2. The House site lists her work on diagnostic mammogram access, teacher professional development, student loan transparency and the state grocery tax2. The House biography also lists a 2025 League of Women Voters Madam President Award and a Center for Effective Lawmaking ranking among the top five Oklahoma lawmakers2. She is the Democratic incumbent running against Republican Paul Hassink1.
Where they stand 13 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In a 2022 Ballotpedia survey she said she favors independent redistricting where legislators have no say in how the lines are drawn. (2022) source
Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
Said · medium confidence- Her campaign site says she will keep fighting so that Oklahomans can earn a fair living wage. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- Her campaign site says she will fight to keep politicians out of your doctor's office. (2026) source
- Voted no on Senate Bill 612, which made performing an abortion a felony except to save the life of the mother in a medical emergency; the House passed it 70 to 14. (2022-04-05) source
- Voted no on House Bill 4327 on third reading in the House, which banned abortion from fertilization except in a medical emergency or a rape or incest reported to law enforcement, enforced through private lawsuits; the House passed it 78 to 19. (2022-03-22) source
- Voted no on House Bill 1168, which makes delivering abortion-inducing drugs for an unlawful abortion a felony; the House passed it 77 to 19. (2025-03-25) source
- Voted no on House Bill 1788, a 2024 tax credit relating to pregnancy resource centers; the House passed it 76 to 18. (2024-03-06) source
- Voted no on House Bill 3013, an earlier version of the abortion-inducing drug felony bill; the House passed it 77 to 18. (2024-03-14) source
- Voted no on House Bill 3194, a 2026 bill on pregnancy centers and abortion-inducing drugs; the House passed it 79 to 18. (2026-03-09) source
GunsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidenceImmigrationNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no 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 House passed it 77 to 20. (2024-04-18) source
- Voted no on House Bill 1362, which makes it a felony for a person found to be unlawfully present after an arrest for violating a state law, with an option to return to the country of origin; the House passed it 73 to 16. (2025-03-13) source
School choiceNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on the House version of the bill creating the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act (House Bill 1935); the House passed it 75 to 25. (2023-02-22) source
- Voted no on final passage of 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 House passed it 61 to 31. (2023-05-02) source
- Voted no on House Bill 3705, which raises the amount of Parental Choice Tax Credits that can be authorized for fiscal year 2027 and later; the House passed it 70 to 19. (2026-04-09) source
Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on Senate Bill 613, which prohibits gender transition procedures for people under 18; the House passed it 73 to 18. (2023-04-26) source
- Voted no on House Bill 3130, which adds referrals and aiding and abetting to Oklahoma's ban on gender transition procedures for minors; the House passed it 71 to 21. (2026-03-25) source
- Voted no on Senate Bill 904, which bars public funds and state facilities from being used for gender transition procedures for minors or adults; the House passed it 77 to 14. (2026-05-06) source
Transgender athletesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on Senate Bill 2, the Save Women's Sports Act, which requires school athletic teams to be designated by biological sex; the House passed it 73 to 19. (2021-04-19) source
Ranked-choice votingNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Bill 3156, which prohibits ranked choice voting in any Oklahoma election; the House passed it 63 to 16. (2024-03-13) source
DEI programsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on Senate Bill 796, which bars Oklahoma colleges from using state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion positions or programs; the House passed it 77 to 18. (2025-05-06) source
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Bill 1005, which tightens what counts as proof of identity at the polls, including a photograph and an unexpired document; the House passed it 75 to 18. (2025-03-27) source
- Voted yes on Senate Joint Resolution 47 on third reading, which sends voters a constitutional amendment requiring proof of identity to vote; the House passed it 80 to 13. (2026-04-15) source
- Voted no on the motion to adopt Senate Joint Resolution 47, which sends voters a constitutional amendment requiring proof of identity to vote; the House passed it 78 to 15. (2026-04-15) source
Kids onlineNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on House Bill 3914, which requires social media age verification and parental consent for minors; the House passed it 69 to 16. (2024-03-14) source
- Voted no on House Bill 1275, which bars social media accounts for minors under 16, requires parental consent for 16 and 17 year olds, and requires age verification; the House passed it 64 to 30. (2025-03-24) source
Term limitsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Joint Resolution 1032, which applies to Congress for a convention limited to proposing term limits for members of the U.S. House and Senate; the House passed it 59 to 34. (2023-03-21) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Healthcare, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.