Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Tulsa City Council Election 2026

1 of 9

council seats up

Vote for up to 1

2 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council District 1 · 1 seat

Vanessa Hall-HarperIncumbentCouncilor, District 1, since 201615sourced
Corinice WilsonAssistant professor of sociology at Tulsa Community College, with a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. She serves on the city's Beyond Apology Commission and is a former co-chair of the North Tulsa Coordinating Committee.9sourced

Only one of the Council's nine seats is on this ballot: the District 1 runoff in north Tulsa. District 1 voters pick one of two candidates; the other eight seats were decided in August and those councilors are listed as holdovers.

4 notes on these statements

Hall-Harper did not attend a July 23 forum hosted by the Deep Greenwood Foundation; her campaign said it declined the invitation. The Oklahoma Eagle · Jul 24, 2026

Tulsa municipal elections are nonpartisan, and no party affiliation is listed on the ballot. NonDoc · Aug 26, 2026

Early voting for Nov. 3 includes a site at O'Brien Park Community Center, 6149 North Lewis Avenue. Tulsa County Election Board

This is Wilson's first run for elected office. The Oklahoma Eagle · Sep 4, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Anthony ArchieCouncilor, District 2 (reelected Aug. 25, 2026)10sourced Laura BellisCouncilor, District 46sourced Christian BengelCouncilor, District 6 (reelected unopposed in 2026)9sourced Jackie DuttonCouncilor, District 3 (reelected Aug. 25, 2026)8sourced Karen GilbertCouncilor, District 5 (reelected Aug. 25, 2026)9sourced Phil Lakin, Jr.Councilor, District 88sourced Pete ReganCouncilor-elect, District 9 (elected Aug. 25, 2026; succeeds Carol Bush)5sourced Lori Decter WrightCouncilor, District 7 (reelected Aug. 25, 2026)7sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decides$5 million for north Tulsa development, Reparations and Greenwood, Data centers Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Fri, Oct 9, 2026

In 4 daysAll key dates

What the next council decides

$5 million for north Tulsa development

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council voted 9-0 to make the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation the fiduciary for $5 million in Improve Our Tulsa 3 funds and to allow spending across District 1.

What's on the tableWhich projects in north Tulsa get the $5 million, and how the spending is overseen.

The ordinance, proposed by Councilor Hall-Harper, changed the $5 million Kirkpatrick Heights/Greenwood allocation to District 1 Economic Development Projects. Tulsa City Council · May 13, 2026
The Kirkpatrick Heights/Greenwood master plan aims to revitalize nearly 60 acres of publicly owned land in north Tulsa. Tulsa Flyer · May 14, 2026
Some residents asked the council to keep the money in the area voters originally approved. Public Radio Tulsa · May 15, 2026
Mayor Nichols was not at the meeting and had not yet signed the ordinance when Public Radio Tulsa reported the vote. Public Radio Tulsa · May 15, 2026

Reparations and Greenwood

Where it standsMayor Nichols' Road to Repair created the Greenwood Trust, a private charitable trust aiming to secure $105 million in assets for north Tulsa and Greenwood.

What's on the tableWhat role the city plays in repair for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, including funding for the mass graves investigation.

In July 2026 the council approved a $1 million supplemental appropriation for 1921 Graves Investigations. Tulsa City Council · Jul 22, 2026
The Greenwood Trust plans a $24 million housing fund, a $60 million cultural preservation fund and a $21 million legacy fund. City of Tulsa
All five District 1 candidates said at an Oklahoma Eagle forum that reparations are necessary. The Oklahoma Eagle · Aug 12, 2026
Both runoff candidates serve on the city's Beyond Apology Commission. The Oklahoma Eagle · Sep 4, 2026

Data centers

Where it standsTulsa's pause on new data center construction took effect March 25 and expires Dec. 31, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt new zoning rules for data centers or extend the pause.

The council voted 9-0 in March 2026 for the data center moratorium. Tulsa City Council · Mar 25, 2026
The planning office has suggested defining data centers by size and widening the setback from protected uses from 250 feet to 1,500 feet. Tulsa Flyer · Aug 24, 2026
Final zoning recommendations are due in November and go to the full council. Tulsa Flyer · Aug 24, 2026
Councilor Dutton said her district and Hall-Harper's north Tulsa district would suffer the most impact from data centers. KOSU (Tulsa Flyer) · Mar 27, 2026

Hotel guest tax (on the Nov. 3 ballot)

Where it standsTulsa voters decide Nov. 3 whether to raise the hotel guest tax from 5% to 9.9%.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the council oversees the planned $80 million in revenue bonds for the BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center.

The council voted 7-0 in July 2026 to adopt the increase subject to voter approval and to call the Nov. 3 election. Tulsa City Council · Jul 22, 2026
The tax applies only to guests of Tulsa hotels and short-term rentals; if approved it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Tulsa City Council · Jul 22, 2026
If passed, it would be the first increase since the 1980s. Tulsa City Council · Jul 22, 2026

Code enforcement and neighborhood conditions

Where it standsThe Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget includes new code enforcement officers to address the backlog of complaints.

What's on the tableHow much the city spends on code enforcement, streets and sidewalks in north Tulsa.

The council approved the $1.227 billion Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget unanimously on June 17. Tulsa City Council
A north Tulsa neighborhood association president told The Oklahoma Eagle she wants more code enforcement in neighborhoods further north. The Oklahoma Eagle · Aug 20, 2026
Corinice Wilson has proposed more fines for owners of neglected properties. The Oklahoma Eagle · Jul 23, 2026

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. Where should the $5 million in voter-approved funds for Kirkpatrick Heights and Greenwood be spent?
2. When the city gives incentives to businesses in north Tulsa, should they have to hire local residents?
3. Should there be reparations for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre?
4. Tulsa's pause on new data centers ends Dec. 31. What should the council do?
5. Should Tulsa raise its hotel guest tax from 5% to 9.9%?
6. How should the city deal with owners who let their properties fall into disrepair?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineTulsa County Election BoardOct 9, 2026
Absentee ballot request deadlineTulsa County Election BoardOct 19, 2026
Early voting begins (through Oct. 31)Tulsa County Election BoardOct 28, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)Tulsa County Election BoardNov 3, 2026
New council takes officeTulsa City Council · Apr 15, 2026Dec 7, 2026

The seat math

8 stay (not up this year): Anthony Archie, Laura Bellis, Christian Bengel, Jackie Dutton, Karen Gilbert, Phil Lakin, Jr., Pete Regan, Lori Decter Wright1 on this ballot

9 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Tulsa has a mayor-council form of government; the mayor is elected by the entire city and each of the nine councilors is elected from a district. Tulsa City Council
The mayor holds a four-year term, and city councilors hold two-year terms. Tulsa City Council
Councilors elected in 2026 take office Dec. 7, 2026, and serve until the first Monday in December 2028. Tulsa City Council · Apr 15, 2026
In municipal races with more than one candidate, a winner needs 50% plus one to win outright; otherwise the top two go to a Nov. 3 runoff. The Oklahoma Eagle · Aug 12, 2026
The State Election Board's Nov. 3 list for the City of Tulsa shows Council District 1 with two candidates: Vanessa Hall-Harper and Corinice Wilson. Oklahoma State Election Board
In the Aug. 25 election, Hall-Harper received 45.84% and Wilson 36.66% of the District 1 vote. KTUL · Aug 26, 2026
District 1 was the only Tulsa council race to go to a Nov. 3 runoff. NonDoc · Aug 26, 2026

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