Oklahoma Voters to Pick Superintendent Nov. 3

Republican Robert Franklin and Democrat Jennettie Marshall are competing to succeed interim State Superintendent Lindel Fields.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Administration

Oklahoma Voters to Pick Superintendent Nov. 3

Live Poll

Should Oklahoma's state superintendent be elected by voters rather than appointed?

Oklahoma voters will decide the Superintendent of Public Instruction race between Republican Robert Franklin and Democrat Jennettie Marshall on November 3, 2026. The winner will replace interim State Superintendent Lindel Fields, who was appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt after Ryan Walters resigned in 2025.

Why it matters

The superintendent oversees public education across the state, and the outcome will determine who leads that agency after a period of leadership turnover. A joint resolution that would have eliminated elections for the position did not advance in early 2026, keeping the office on the ballot.

Robert Franklin has worked in Oklahoma education for more than 40 years, and polls close at 7 p.m. on November 3, 2026. Voters in line at 7 p.m. will still be allowed to cast ballots, and the race result remains unknown until precincts report.

The players

Robert Franklin

Franklin is the Republican candidate for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction and has spent more than 40 years working in the state's education system.

Jennettie Marshall

Marshall is the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction and previously served on the Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education.

Lindel Fields

Fields is the interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction, appointed by Governor Kevin Stitt to fill the vacancy left by Ryan Walters.

The details

Franklin is the Republican candidate and Marshall, a former Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member and pastor, is the Democratic candidate. Marshall has proposed a six-pillar plan called "The Marshall Plan."

2020: Gov. Stitt began discussing making the position appointed.
2025: Ryan Walters resigned as state superintendent.
Early 2026: A joint resolution to eliminate elections for the position did not advance.
November 3, 2026: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. for the superintendent race.

Season Trajectory

The November 2026 vote follows Ryan Walters' 2025 resignation as state superintendent, which left the office in interim hands. The race will determine whether the position's elected status, which survived a joint resolution to eliminate it in early 2026, continues under a permanent leader.

Oklahoma voters who are in line when polls close at 7 p.m. on November 3, 2026 can still cast a ballot. Results will be updated as precincts report that night.

The takeaway

Voters choosing a state superintendent are selecting the person who will set policy for public schools, so reviewing each candidate's platform before polls open can help inform the decision.