Tulsa City Council candidate filings closed Wednesday, and every seat is up for election. Some incumbents are facing challengers — but several will be automatically re-elected come August.
Twenty candidates filed to seek election, according to city records. Tulsa’s municipal elections are nonpartisan, although candidates can claim affiliation with a political party. Councilors serve two-year terms.
District 9 Councilor Carol Bush, a former state House representative elected to council in 2024, did not file for reelection and was the only councilor to not seek another term. Three of the nine councilors are not facing challengers this year: District 4 Councilor Laura Bellis, District 6 Councilor Christian Bengel and District 8 Councilor Phil Lakin are running unopposed.
The municipal election is Aug. 25. If necessary, candidates will have a runoff election Nov. 3.
Here are the districts and their candidates in this year’s election:
District 1
Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper faces the most challengers out of any district. Her opponents include Mareo Johnson, Thomas William Moore, Reggie Williams and Corinice Wilson.
Johnson is the local president of the Tulsa NAACP chapter. Williams is an athletic director for North Mabee. Wilson is a Tulsa Community College professor and serves on Tulsa’s Beyond Apology Commission.
Hall-Harper was first elected to the council in 2016. She represents an area that includes the Historic Greenwood District and north Tulsa.
District 2
Councilor Anthony Archie faces challenger Aaron Bisogno. Bisogno previously ran for District 2 in 2024 but lost to Archie, a first-term councilor, by more than 1,000 votes.
Bisogno also lost in prior years, including 2014, 2016 and 2022. The District 2 area covers parts of west and southwest Tulsa.
District 3
Councilor Jackie Dutton is the incumbent facing Tanisha Bowen.
Bowen is a local Realtor entering the race against Dutton, who assumed her position in December 2024. District 3 covers a portion of midtown as well as much of northeast Tulsa.
District 4
Councilor Laura Bellis faces no challengers this year. Her district covers much of midtown Tulsa and parts of the downtown area. Bellis assumed office in 2022.
District 5
Councilor Karen Gilbert will face Adam Burnett, a local lawyer.
Gilbert, who is currently the council’s chair, has served on the council for nine years, from 2011 to 2018 and then again starting in December 2024. District 5 includes parts of midtown and east Tulsa.
District 6
Councilor Christian Bengel faces no challengers this year. He first took office in December 2022 and then again in 2024.
Bengel’s area covers much of east Tulsa and southeast Tulsa. He serves as the council’s vice chair.
District 7
Councilor Lori Decter Wright faces two opponents in Kenny Wogoman and Dave Perry. Wogoman has previously positioned himself as a medical marijuana advocate.
Decter Wright is a tenured councilor who first assumed office in 2018. She represents portions of south Tulsa.
District 8
Councilor Phil Lakin Jr. faces no challengers this year. Lakin is one of the longest-serving councilors, being in office since 2011. His district covers a large portion of south Tulsa.
District 9
Councilor Carol Bush did not file for reelection. Ben Johnson, Pete Regan and Shawn Tieman are seeking to succeed her and represent south and central areas of Tulsa. This would include prominent neighborhoods like Brookside.
Bush’s time as councilor comes to an end after being elected two years ago. She served previously as a part of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for six years.
See which district you live in by using the city’s Council District Finder Map.
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