Oklahoma Senate candidate with ad tossing AIPAC 'trash' faces off against centrist in primary

Oklahoma voters are heading to the polls Tuesday for a Democratic Senate runoff election, pitting grassroots activist N’kiyla Jasmine Thomas against centrist Jim Priest. This race is the latest contest testing progressive politics in the deeply conservative state.

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Oklahoma grassroots activist N’kiyla Jasmine Thomas is facing off on Tuesday against centrist Jim Priest in a Democratic Senate race that has become the latest litmus test for progressive politics in a conservative stronghold.

Neither candidate secured the majority needed in the June primary, leading to this second contest. Thomas, a nurse who has been outspoken against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), garnered 45% of the vote in the initial five-person race. Priest, a lawyer and minister, trailed with 24%.

Both Thomas and Priest face an uphill battle in the general election against Republican Rep. Kevin Hern, who secured President Donald Trump's endorsement. Democrats have not sent a senator from Oklahoma to Washington in over three decades. The runoff is seen as a gauge of progressivism's strength in red states, following a similar progressive victory in Florida's Democratic Senate primary.

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Thomas, a nurse who has been vocal against AIPAC, earned 45% of votes in the June five-person matchup, while Priest, a lawyer and ordained minister, accrued 24%.

Thomas, 31, identifies with socialist policies and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. Her platform includes women's health, civil rights, and LGBTQIA+ protections. She has pledged not to accept funds from AIPAC or corporate PACs, famously featuring a promotional video where she discards a trash bin labeled "AIPAC Funds" and "Corporate PAC Funds." Thomas clarified her stance, stating her concerns are with human rights and government accountability, not Jewish people or Israel's existence.

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Oklahoma hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate in more than three decades.

Priest, 70, has prior political experience with a failed bid for Oklahoma attorney general and leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. His campaign focuses on reducing the cost of living, improving healthcare access, and restoring confidence in government. Despite Thomas's progressive platform and Priest's moderate stance, both are considered long shots against the incumbent Republican.

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Oklahoma Democratic candidate N’kiyla Jasmine Thomas in a promotional video taking out a red trash bin labeled ''AIPAC Funds'' and ''Corporate PAC Funds,'' November 12, 2025.