Oklahoma City's Ward 6 race just got a notable new name. Kay Floyd, a former leader in the Oklahoma Senate who now sits as an Oklahoma City municipal judge, has filed financial papers confirming she will run for the Ward 6 council seat, bringing the field to four candidates.
Floyd's filing, first reported by The Oklahoman, comes after current Ward 6 councilmember JoBeth Hamon announced she will not seek another term. That decision leaves an open seat in a ward that has drawn plenty of attention in recent election cycles, and Floyd's entry now gives Oklahoma City residents four names to weigh as they decide who will represent the ward on the council.
A Judge With a Long Legislative Résumé
Floyd is no newcomer to Oklahoma politics. She was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2012 and won her first term in the Oklahoma Senate in 2014, according to reporting from The Journal Record. During her time in the Legislature, she became the first woman to lead a caucus in the Oklahoma Senate, the outlet reports.
Floyd stepped away from elected office to join the bench, and was sworn in as an Oklahoma City municipal judge on Aug. 27, 2025, alongside fellow new judge Gunner Briscoe. The same report notes she was also one of the youngest women in Oklahoma history to receive a judicial appointment. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt marked the swearing-in on social media, writing on X that “the Mayor and Council hire the City Manager, the Municipal Counselor, the City Auditor and the Municipal Judges,” adding that Floyd is someone “many know from her years in the Oklahoma Legislature.”
Hamon's Tenure and a Closely Watched Predecessor Race
Hamon has represented Ward 6 since first winning election in 2019, and her most recent reelection was no landslide. In 2023, Hamon held off challenger Marek Cornett with 54.45% of the vote to his 45.55%, according to election results compiled by NonDoc. Turnout in that contest was modest, with just 2,968 people casting ballots, the outlet reported. Ward 6 councilmembers serve four-year terms and are paid $12,000 annually, per the same report.
What Comes Next for Ward 6 and Three Other Seats
Floyd's entry means Ward 6 voters will choose among four candidates once the race is formally set, though the identities and platforms of the other contenders have not yet been detailed. Ward 6 is not the only seat up for grabs this cycle. Oklahoma City residents will also decide representatives for council seats in Wards 2, 5 and 8.
According to the City of Oklahoma City, candidate filing for all four wards runs Dec. 7 through Dec. 9, 2026, with the general election set for Feb. 9, 2027. The timeline puts the race on a fast track just as this year's midterm elections fade into the rearview mirror, giving Oklahoma City voters a quick turnaround before heading back to the polls for local races.
