City of Tulsa Elections 2026: First day of filing

As if we didn't have enough to notice right now: Filing for all nine seats on the City of Tulsa City Council and for City Auditor is happening one week before the Oklahoma primary. Filing began this morning, Monday, June 8, 2026 and will end at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The Oklahoma State Election Board tracks candidate filings on their website, and the Tulsa County Election Board has posted a list of filings to date.

After the first day of filing, it's mainly incumbents that have filed: City Auditor Nathan Pickard will run for a term that was changed by charter to run four years instead of two, offset from the Mayor's four-year term. Incumbent councilors Vanessa Hall Harper (District 1), Anthony Archie (2), Jackie Dutton (3), Laura Bellis (4), Karen Gilbert (5), Christian Bengel (6), Lori Decter Wright (7), and Phil Lakin Jr. (8). One candidate, Ben Johnson, has filed in District 9.

Only two races are contested so far: Aaron Bisogno is running once again for District 2. Adam Burnett has filed in District 5 to challenge Councilor Gilbert.

The election is August 25, 2026. If a race draws three or more candidates and no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in August, there will be a runoff on November 3 between the "several candidates for the office receiving the greatest number of votes totaling fifty percent (50%)," and then it's first-past-the-post.

To file for any City of Tulsa office, you'll need a $50 cashier's check, you'll need to complete and notarize a declaration of candidacy, and you'll need to read, sign, and date the qualifications for office, then file the paperwork with the Tulsa County Election Board at its new location at 12000 E. Skelly Drive, on the southeast service road of I-44 just north of 11th Street. The City of Tulsa 2026 election packet is available on the TCEB website.