Who is running for Oklahoma Senate, District 12 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Oklahoma Senate, District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Oklahoma Senate District 12.
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 | Erica WatkinsDemocrat | Todd GollihareRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Raise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingSaid · medium | No public position |
| Abortion | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestVoted · low |
| Guns | No public position | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksSaid · medium |
| Immigration | No public position | Secure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadyVoted · medium |
| School choice | No, keep public money in traditional public schoolsQuestionnaire answer · medium | Yes, universal school choice for every familyVoted · medium |
| Election rules | No public position | Photo ID required, with current access otherwiseVoted · medium |
| Gender care for minors | No public position | No, ban these treatments for minorsVoted · medium |
| Ranked-choice voting | No public position | No, ban ranked-choice voting in all electionsVoted · medium |
| DEI programs | No public position | Keep support open to all, but end race or sex preferences and required statementsVoted · medium |
Erica Watkins
DemocratEducation advocate; Army National Guard veteran
Erica Watkins, born in Tulsa, graduated from Sapulpa High School, Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, and served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard from 2007 to 2017, including a deployment to Afghanistan1. She is a founding board member of We're Oklahoma Education and has owned a small business, according to her survey answers1. She is the Democratic nominee for Senate District 12 and faces incumbent Todd Gollihare2.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium
Questionnaire answer · medium confidence- In a 2025 Ballotpedia survey she said she opposes vouchers and efforts to privatize or defund public education. (2025) source
Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, 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, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Todd Gollihare
Republican · IncumbentState senator, Senate District 12 (since 2022)
Todd Gollihare, of Kellyville, is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel with 25 years of service and a former Chief U.S. Probation Officer for the Northern District of Oklahoma, according to his campaign site1. He has served in the Oklahoma Senate since November 20222. He won the June 2026 Republican primary with 70 percent and faces Democrat Erica Watkins3.
Where they stand 9 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
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
- His campaign site says he helped pass the toughest immigration law in Oklahoma history. (2026) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on House Bill 1934, the Oklahoma 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 1935, a companion version of the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; the Senate passed it 40 to 7. (2023-03-30) 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 37 to 8. (2023-04-27) source
- Voted yes on Senate Bill 904, which bars public funds and state facilities from being used for gender transition procedures for minors or adults; the Senate passed that text 39 to 8. (2026-03-25) source
- Is the Senate author of Senate Bill 904 (2026). (2025-03-10) 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
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
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site lists him as pro-Second Amendment. (2026) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Term limitsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes 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 Senate passed it 31 to 11. (2023-04-20) 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, 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, Transgender athletes, 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.