State Rep. Toni Hasenbeck is officially gunning for Oklahoma’s top education job, launching a Republican primary run for state superintendent with a platform built around literacy, parental authority and a heavy emphasis on faith in the classroom.
The Elgin Republican, a former classroom teacher, said she wants more teacher training in the science of reading, expanded parents' rights and greater access to Bibles in schools. She framed her bid as a fight to restore Oklahoma values and vowed to "eradicate indoctrination" from classrooms. Her campaign announcement noted she has not yet filed formal paperwork with state election officials, as reported by Oklahoma Voice.
Hasenbeck's platform and announcement
In a campaign release outlining specific policy goals, Hasenbeck pledged to require teachers to be trained in the science of reading, strengthen parents' rights over curriculum and prioritize Bible access in schools. Oklahoma Voice noted that she framed her run around faith, family and fundamentals, leaning on her classroom experience and conservative voting record. Her announcement also quoted her promise to restore Oklahoma values in every school.
Her record on education
Hasenbeck is the Republican state representative for House District 65 and highlights years of classroom experience in her official biography. Legislative records show she was a principal sponsor of Senate Bill 613, the 2023 law that restricts gender-transition procedures for minors, a measure that sparked legal challenges and public debate. Her House biography details her committee work, while LegiScan lists her as a sponsor of SB 613.
Who else is running
The 2026 superintendent race already features former Bixby superintendent Rob Miller, longtime Peggs schools leader John Cox and state Sen. Adam Pugh on the Republican side, with Democrats Craig McVay and Jennettie Marshall and independent Jerry Griffin also having filed or announced campaigns, according to reporting by KOSU. That mix of educators and elected officials sets up a primary where literacy policy, school safety and culture-war themes could drive the conversation. Hasenbeck's entry adds a legislator with recent involvement in high-profile education bills to an already crowded GOP field.
Timeline and what's at stake
Oklahoma's primary is scheduled for June 16, with an August 25 runoff if no candidate clears 50 percent of the vote, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. The campaign will unfold alongside the legislative session and the State Department of Education's 2026 policy push on literacy, teacher recruitment and school safety, as outlined by the agency.
With candidate filing set for early April, Hasenbeck will need to formalize her paperwork and quickly build a statewide operation and fundraising base to stay competitive. Early moves such as her Ethics Commission filing, key endorsements and first fundraising reports will show whether her House profile and conservative record can carry her beyond the Capitol and into Oklahoma’s top education office.
