Bartlesville Elects Largely New City Council
Voters chose a mostly new Bartlesville City Council in the November 2026 general election, with only two incumbents retaining their seats.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall
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Voters in the November 2026 general election elected a largely new Bartlesville City Council, as only two incumbents retained their seats. Michael Colaw defeated incumbent Tim Sherrick in Ward 1, and David Austin defeated Cameron Byers in Ward 2.
Why it matters
The turnover signals a significant shift in the city's leadership as the newly elected members take over local governance for Bartlesville residents. Incumbents Jim Curd and Aaron Kirkpatrick were the only sitting members to hold their seats.
Winning vote shares ranged from just under 50% to about 55% across the five wards, with Jim Curd receiving just under 50% in Ward 3 against challenger Josh Lock at 42%. The extraction does not indicate whether these figures are certified final totals.
The players
Michael Colaw
Michael Colaw won the Ward 1 seat on the Bartlesville City Council in the November 2026 election.
Jim Curd
Jim Curd retained his Ward 3 seat as an incumbent and serves as mayor of Bartlesville.
The details
Ward 1 saw Michael Colaw defeat incumbent Tim Sherrick, while in Ward 2 David Austin defeated Cameron Byers after Larry East chose not to run for re-election. In Ward 5, Eddie Collins unseated incumbent Trevor Dorsey, and in Ward 4 Aaron Kirkpatrick retained his seat against challengers Amanda Veley and Joel Rabin.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: General election held and Bartlesville council results reported.
First meeting of December 2026: Newly elected council members to be sworn in.
Legal Context
Because Bartlesville elects council members by ward, the turnover in Wards 1, 2, and 5 reshapes representation across the city's existing five-ward council structure. The change replaces most sitting members while keeping the ward-based system intact.
Bartlesville residents will see new council members making decisions on city matters beginning with the first December 2026 meeting. Because most seats changed hands, residents in Wards 1, 2, and 5 will have new representatives on the council.
The takeaway
Voters in Bartlesville have replaced most of their city council, so residents may want to track how the new members approach upcoming city decisions.
What happens next
The newly elected council members will be sworn in at the first meeting of December 2026.
Further reading
For background on how local government decisions are made, explore City Hall coverage in Bartlesville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KWON KYFM KRIG KPGM.
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