We hope you enjoy this weekly newsletter from the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. Feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who might be interested in child advocacy. If you or your organization would like to join OICA, simply go to https://oica.org/become-a-member/ and pick the level of membership that is best for you. We would be honored to count you among our members who are fighting for a better future for Oklahoma's children.

Today, from the 2026 OICA Desk Calendar

Celebrating America's 250th Birthday

Not All Elections are Over—Oklahoma Students Voting in Kid Governor® Election!

Students across Oklahoma are making their way to the polls this week to cast their votes for Oklahoma's next Kid Governor. In spring 2022, OICA partnered with The Connecticut Democracy Center to bring the award-winning Kid Governor® civics program to Oklahoma.

For the past six years, OICA has sponsored or co-sponsored the Oklahoma’s Kid Governor program. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the program expanded to be a full Kid Governor® civics program for fifth graders across Oklahoma, teaching fifth graders the importance of civic duty and voting while allowing them to run for and vote for the state’s Kid Governor®. 

This week, students across the state are casting their votes for the next Kid Governor! Thanks to Mrs. Dansby and her class at Valliant Elementary School for allowing us to take photos of some of the students voting!

SALES HAVE NOW BEGUN to purchase a page in the OICA DESKTOP CALENDAR. Each page is only $250 to sponsor, with discounts for multiple page purchases.

The 2027 calendar will be special. OICA has partnered with Oklahoma Tourism to promote locations and events—like the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival—that make Oklahoma the wonderful state it is! The 2027 calendar will be full of photos and information about our great state!

Every day is a chance to support child advocacy and an opportunity for you to send a message, support a cause, honor a loved one, and remain top-of-mind among Oklahoma's policy leaders.

The calendar is important—data provided through our desktop calendar help us consistently deliver policy wins for children—and the money raised supports our efforts. Please help us get this word out, as the OICA DESKTOP CALENDAR truly is “For the Children” in the policy arena.

To purchase your page, go to https://tinyurl.com/OICACAL27, OR you can reach out to jdorman@oica.org or bleeds@oica.org. GET YOUR PAGE OR PAGES TODAY!

2026 Tulsa Movie Series

Advocacy Double Feature!

Double Feature and Panel Discussions



Wednesday, Nov. 18 - 1-3 p.m.

Tulsa's Circle Cinema

10 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa

OICA Sponsors of the Week

Oklahoma's Federally Recognized Sovereign Nations

As November is Native American Heritage Month, OICA is very proud to recognize the 38 Federally Recognized Sovereign Nations as this week's Sponsors of the Week.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is honored to work with our tribal partners to improve the quality of life for all of Oklahoma's children. They participate in our programs and events, as well as our advocacy efforts at the State Capitol and beyond. 

The Board of Directors, members, and staff of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy are deeply grateful for this unswerving partnership, and—as Native American Heritage Month kicks off—we are proud to recognize Oklahoma's Federally Recognized Sovereign Nations as OICA's Sponsors of the Week!

With successful new laws to ban child marriage, extend support for foster youth, and many others, Oklahoma lawmakers and the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) made significant gains for children in 2026.

Each year, OICA issues a “report card” of lawmakers’ votes regarding legislation relating to children. This effort allows individuals who care about children’s policies to know how their own lawmakers voted based upon our grading system. OICA began 2026 tracking with more than 350 bills, eventually whittling down to the list to 25.

We waited until now to release the scorecard so it could achieve its goal of informing constituents about the good work done by those they elect and not be used as election fodder. Our goal is to encourage lawmakers to vote more consistently to benefit young Oklahomans and for advocates to engage with them for ideas.

Read More and Get the Scorecard

New slate of 8: Mazzei defeats Munson, Republicans sweep statewide offices—from NonDoc

(Andrea Hancock - November 3 - NonDoc) While House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson won more votes than the past four Democratic candidates for governor, former Sen. Mike Mazzei won the Oklahoma gubernatorial race Tuesday night, capping off a series of triumphs that began in May when he was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

Republicans won each of the eight statewide offices on Tuesday’s ballot, proving that, despite a national shift where Democrats took commanding control of Congress, Oklahoma remains a GOP stronghold.

Read More

State Question 847, which sought to limit property tax growth, fails Oklahoma general election vote—from Oklahoma Voice

(Nuria Martinez-Keel - November 3 - Oklahoma Voice) Oklahoma voters on Tuesday rejected a state question that would have limited increases in property taxes.

State Question 847 proposed a 1.75% cap on yearly growth in the taxable assessed value of a homestead or agricultural property. Other properties’ value could be assessed at no more than 4% more than the year before. This would have slowed how much property owners’ taxes increased over time.

Similar limits on property value growth, ranging from 0.35% to 1.75%, would have applied to Oklahomans over age 65 who earn too much income to qualify for a “senior freeze” that halts property tax increases.

The state Legislature put SQ 847 on the ballot to offer some amount of relief from rising costs, particularly for homeowners also struggling with skyrocketing home insurance premiums.

Read More

Oklahoma Republicans retain control as Democrats flip six state House seats—from News on 6, Tulsa

(Cal Day - November 4 - News on 6, Tulsa) Oklahoma will remain under Republican leadership at both the federal and state levels following Tuesday’s election.

Democrats flipped six Oklahoma House districts, however, and kept two U.S. congressional races closer than expected.

Read More or Watch

Proposed Head Start standards could complicate communication for Hispanic famlies—from Oklahoma Watch

(Raymond Howell - November 3 - Oklahoma Watch) The first time Jacqueline Contreras entered the Tulsa Educare lobby, tears rolled down her face. 

Contreras’ autistic son, Alonso, had shut down after his father had to sign a voluntary departure to leave the United States. Contreras had lost all hope. 

“I felt like I had no way out,” Contreras said. “I had no help. (I felt) that I’m going to lose my job and I’m not going to be able to support my family.”

Read More

More active shooter training for Oklahoma law enforcement—from OETA's The Oklahoma Report

(Steve Shaw - October 30 - OETA's Oklahoma News Report) The Oklahoma legislature has dedicated funding to allow schools to conduct risk and vulnerability assessments every 5 years, in an effort to avoid "active shooter" situations on their campuses. Now, lawmakers are looking to also enhance training for law enforcement.

Watch the Report

Nationwide voter turnout surge skips Oklahoma, where less than half of registered voters cast a ballot—from Tulsa Flyer

(Anna Colletto - November 4 - Tulsa Flyer) Whether they were pushed by rising prices, hopes of a blue wave or a red wall, less than half of Oklahoma’s registered voters cast a ballot Tuesday.  

Following a surge of early votes, hopes of record-breaking midterm turnout dissipated as votes rolled in Tuesday. Statewide turnout rests at nearly 46%, per unofficial results from the state election board. That’s compared to more than 64% of registered voters in 2024 and just over 50% in 2022. 

“I think every vote counts and it’s obvious that if you don’t come out, if you complain and you don’t come out, you can’t expect anything different,” said Tulsa voter Lashonda Barnes at Midtown Church of Christ Tuesday. 

Read More

Partner Organization Announcements

Attorney General Launches Essay Contest for Middle School Students

Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced today an essay contest for Oklahoma middle school students to explore what the state means to them and what they believe will make Oklahoma stronger in the years ahead. 

“From our smallest rural communities to our largest cities, generations of Oklahomans have demonstrated a spirit of resilience and determination that continues to define our state today,” Drummond said in a letter to teachers, parents and students. “That spirit is found in our classrooms, on our farms and ranches, in our businesses, among our first responders and members of the military, and in families and communities across all 77 counties.”

All students in sixth through eighth grade who attend an Oklahoma public, private, charter, virtual or tribal school or who participate in a homeschool program are eligible to submit an essay completing the prompt “My hope for Oklahoma’s future is…,” "What makes Oklahoma special is..." or "I am proud to be an Oklahoman because..." in 250 to 350 words. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15.

A panel of judges will review all submissions and select the top outstanding essays. From the finalists, Drummond will select one for special recognition.

Students selected for recognition will be invited, along with their families and teachers, to a ceremony where their ideas, their love for Oklahoma and their vision for the future will be celebrated. 

“Our young people should know that their voices matter,” Drummond said. “I look forward to hearing, in their own words, what they love about Oklahoma and the kind of state they hope to inherit and someday lead.”

Contest information has been shared with Oklahoma schools. For questions, email OklahomasFuture@oag.ok.gov.

“Now, everybody is sad when their side loses an election, but the day after we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re patriots first."

Barack Obama

44th President of the United States