A single checked box on a Republican Party questionnaire has become the center of a heated exchange in Edmond's open race for Oklahoma House District 81, where Republican Troy Talley and Democrat Megan Hornbeek Allen are vying to replace outgoing Rep. Mike Osburn. The two candidates are now publicly sparring over Talley's position on public school funding, a dispute that has surfaced as early voting approaches and ballots for the November 3 general election draw near.
According to NonDoc, the friction traces back to the “OKGOP Certified” endorsement process Talley pursued during his primary campaign, which required candidates to complete a questionnaire. Talley checked “agree” to a statement opposing increased state funding for government schools, a response Hornbeek Allen has since highlighted as evidence of his stance on education spending. Talley has said the initial answer was submitted without fully understanding the question and was later amended by his campaign.
Talley Clarifies His Position After Backlash
Talley's amended response sought to clarify that he supports school spending directed toward challenging curriculum, safe schools, and increased compensation for top teachers, the outlet reports. He has said he favors additional school funding only if it reaches educators and classrooms directly and avoids what he describes as wasteful or liberal causes. Hornbeek Allen, for her part, supports additional funding for public schools without the qualifications Talley has attached to his position.
The education fight is playing out in a district that covers central and southeast Edmond along with a small portion of north Oklahoma City, per the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Education policy has been a prominent campaign issue.
An Open Seat After a Decade in Office
The seat became available after Osburn, who held HD 81 for the preceding decade, announced in March that he would not seek another term. Talley advanced to the general election after winning the Republican runoff against Rusty Rains with 59 percent support and 2,630 votes, while Hornbeek Allen won the Democratic primary against Jason Lankford with 62 percent support and 1,315 votes.
Hornbeek Allen has said education is the foundation of a strong community and has made it a centerpiece of her campaign. She plans to introduce a bill fully funding concurrent enrollment so that juniors and seniors can earn college credits without their families or school districts shouldering the cost. Current Oklahoma higher education rules allow high school seniors to receive state tuition waivers for up to 18 credit hours and juniors up to nine, according to OKcollegestart.
Candidates Diverge on Priorities Beyond the Classroom
Talley, who works as a senior account manager for Chickasaw Telecom, says he plans to prioritize building relationships at the Capitol if elected and wants to use his telecommunications-industry experience to modernize state government workflows and automate manual processes. He has also said he favors somewhat less digital use in early education classrooms, and that education and better student outcomes would be top priorities for him in office.
Hornbeek Allen has described herself as a moderate Democrat who aims to work across party lines. She also runs LiveBetter at Home, a home care business she co-founded with her husband, Jeremy Allen, that offers services to seniors aging in place. She has said she wants seniors to be able to age at home with proper care and wants to address the reduced availability of long-term home-care insurance policies.
Voter registration for the November 3 election closed statewide on Friday, October 9, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. Early in-person voting in Oklahoma County runs from Wednesday, October 28 through Friday, October 30 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, October 31 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., giving HD 81 residents a final window to weigh in before Election Day.
