08/27/2026
Last night was extraordinary!
Standing in the same room with Robert Franklin, his family, friends, supporters, and so many people who care deeply about Oklahoma public education, I felt something that has been in short supply for a while.
Hope.
Five months ago, Robert Franklin didn’t expect to be doing this.
Neither did I.
When I made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw from this race after losing my wife in February, Robert was willing to step forward and take on a challenge that few people truly understand.
Campaigning statewide is exhausting. Politics can be ugly. The headwinds were strong. There were easier things Robert could have done with this season of his life.
But he said yes.
And then he worked. He traveled. He listened. He shook thousands of hands. He talked with educators, parents, community leaders, and voters across Oklahoma. He endured the attacks, the noise, and all the things that make good people wonder why they ever entered politics in the first place.
And last night, Oklahoma Republican voters rewarded that effort.
Robert Franklin is now the Republican nominee for Oklahoma State Superintendent.
I could not be more proud of my friend.
But I’m grateful for something else, too. When I endorsed Robert, I asked many of you who had supported me to trust my judgment one more time. So many of you did. You donated. You made calls. You shared posts. You talked to friends and neighbors. You showed up. You helped get Robert across this critical benchmark.
Thank you!
After the turmoil Oklahoma educators endured under the previous state superintendent, I believe many people desperately needed a reason to believe that competence, experience, decency, and steady leadership could still matter.
Last night showed that they do.
This isn’t the finish line. There is another election ahead.
But for one night, it was okay to celebrate.
To hug old friends.
To laugh.
Maybe even shed a few tears.
And to look around that room and realize that after everything our education community has been through, we had accomplished something important together.
Politics can be ugly.
The odds can look daunting.
The headwinds can be fierce.
But we got it done.
Thank you, Robert, for answering the call when Oklahoma needed you.
Thank you to everyone who trusted me enough to stand with him.
And thank you for reminding a lot of us that hope still has a place in Oklahoma education.
On to November.
