Oklahoma Secretary of State Ben Lepak was arrested for public intoxication after police found him visibly intoxicated outside an Edmond McDonald’s. Attorney General Gentner Drummond called for Lepak to be fired, pointing to body-camera footage and a previous alcohol-related arrest from 2021. Lepak does not plan to resign and intends to handle the charge through the legal process. The situation has increased tensions between Drummond and Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration, where Lepak also serves as general counsel.
Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial candidates Gentner Drummond and Mike Mazzei are in a close race ahead of the Aug. 25 primary runoff. The candidates have disagreed over campaign spending, with Mazzei loaning his campaign about $11.6 million while Drummond has contributed $3 million to his own campaign. Mazzei has also received an endorsement from President Donald Trump, which Drummond argues has significantly helped his opponent. Both candidates are hoping their experience, political support, and plans for Oklahoma will convince Republican voters to choose them.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is threatening to charge Tulsa and Oklahoma City for the costs of clearing homeless encampments on state property through Operation SAFE. State officials say the cleanups have cost more than $523,000 in Tulsa and $375,000 in Oklahoma City, arguing that local governments have failed to enforce camping laws. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols criticized the plan, saying the state chose to conduct the cleanups and should not make cities responsible for the costs. The disagreement highlights tensions over how state and local governments should address homelessness and public safety.
The Department of Homeland Security is defending its decision to investigate David Streever after he sent a strongly critical email to a former ICE official. ICE agents attempted to find Streever at his home, an airport, and a hotel, and left him a warning about federal laws against threatening officials. Streever filed a lawsuit claiming the investigation violated his First Amendment rights and caused him to censor his speech. The government argues that these investigations and warning notices are necessary tools for preventing threats against public officials.
Weekly Wrap Up
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October 30, 2026: Interim studies must be heard in committee
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We have the largest savings account we’ve ever had. So it’s $3.7 billion with a B that I’m handing over to the next governor. At the same time, we’ve given our wonderful school teachers a pay raise three times,” Governor Kevin Stitt said on his 77 county tour. “I’ve put more money in public education than any other governor before me. I’ve cut taxes by $2 billion. I got the income tax down a half a point. And then, more importantly, I put us on a path to zero.”