Who is running for Oklahoma Senate, District 24 in 2026?

Private citizen

Jonathan Morales, 45, is the Democratic nominee for the open Senate District 24 seat covering Moore, north Norman and part of southwest Oklahoma City¹². He was the only Democrat to file, so he advanced to the November ballot without a primary¹³. No campaign website or public statements of his positions were found.

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, 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.

Social worker and licensed mental health provider

Melissa Elder, 48, is a social worker and licensed mental health provider running as an independent for the open Senate District 24 seat¹². She was born in Oklahoma and says her campaign centers on public schools, health care access and workers². She is listed on the November ballot as an independent³.

Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• School choiceNo, keep public money in traditional public schoolsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Her campaign site says she is fighting to repeal the Parental Choice Tax Credit, Oklahoma's private school tax credit. (2026) source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low

  Said · low confidence

  • Her campaign site says she is fighting for women's access to safe and legal reproductive care. (2026) source
• HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenlow

  Said · low confidence

  • Her campaign site says she will protect Medicaid expansion. (2026) source
• Minimum wageNo single answer fitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • Her campaign site says she is fighting for raising the minimum wage. (2026) source

No public position found on: Safety net programs, Business regulation, 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.

Optometrist (retired from practice); former Moore Public Schools board member

Jon Painter, 60, practiced optometry in downtown Moore for more than 30 years and served on the Moore Public Schools board, the Moore Parks Board and the Work Activity Center board¹². He ran unsuccessfully for House District 91 in 2014³. He led the five-way June 16 Republican primary with 34.5 percent, won the August 25 runoff and is the Republican nominee for the open Senate District 24 seat³⁴.

Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• HealthcarePrivate insurance with more competition and price transparency, keeping protections for pre-existing conditionsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His issues page calls for market reforms in health care: full price transparency, more competition and more choices for patients, not more government control. (2026) source
• Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His issues page says welfare should be a temporary hand-up and that recipients should have to get a job and pass drug tests or lose benefits. (2026) source
• GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His issues page says he will never support any effort to restrict, register or chip away at the right to keep and bear arms. (2026) source
• Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His issues page says parents, not bureaucrats, know what is best for their kids and that he will restore parental rights in schools. (2026) source
• Policing and crimeTougher sentences, more police funding, and stricter bailmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His issues page says criminals who work hard to go to jail should stay there and that he will always back the blue and public safety officers. (2026) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow

  Said · low confidence

  • His issues page says every human life, born or unborn, is made in the image of God and deserves protection. (2026) source
• ImmigrationNo single answer fitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • His issues page calls for zero tolerance for sanctuary policies and says taxpayer benefits for people in the country illegally invite more illegal crossings. (2026) source
• School choiceNo single answer fitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • In a July 2026 interview he called himself a big proponent of public education, said his district has reelected pro school choice legislators that he must take into consideration, and said parents will do what is best for their kids and the state should support that. (2026-07) source

No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Energy and climate, Housing and growth, 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.