Attorney General of Oklahoma · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Oklahoma attorney general race?
Nick Coffey has the strongest record in the Oklahoma attorney general race. Nick Coffey and Jon Echols each score 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026; Nick Coffey ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (58 to 50). Nick Coffey's highest marks are accountability and command of the job. Jon Echols's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Nick Coffey
66 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 69
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Jon Echols
66 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 63
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Nick Coffey
- On the record2026-07-28
Began a public town hall tour in Lawton.
Source: KSWO, July 29, 2026
- On the record2026-09-21
Held a press conference with the husband of Shannon Hanchett, who died in the Cleveland County jail, pressing for accountability from TK Health, the company Echols co-founded.
Source: The Frontier, Sept. 21, 2026
- On the record2025-10-14
Left the Department of Justice to run for attorney general, the first Democrat to seek the office since 2018.
Source: NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
- Credit2025-05-12
One of four assistant U.S. attorneys who prosecuted a black-market marijuana trafficking case that ended with 10 defendants sentenced to 463 months combined.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office release, reprinted by Oklahoma City Free Press, May 12, 2025
- Credit2023
Named Prosecutor of the Year by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the youngest person to receive the award.
Source: NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026
Jon Echols
- On the record2026-05-08
Returned a $3,500 donation from Sara and Rod Polston after a grand jury report; the report said there was no evidence he played any role in her case.
Source: News 9, May 12, 2026
- On the record2026-09-21
Co-founded TK Health, a jail health contractor facing wrongful-death suits; the company says he owns about 2% and is not involved in day-to-day operations. Victims' families and Coffey raised conflict concerns.
Source: The Frontier, Sept. 21, 2026
- On the record2026-05-18
The Frontier and NonDoc rated "Mostly false" his debate claim that Oklahoma's constitutional ban on public money for religion is a Blaine Amendment.
Source: The Frontier, May 21, 2026
- On the record2017 to 2024
Served eight years as House majority floor leader, the longest tenure in state history.
Source: NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
- On the record2016-07-14
The Frontier reported the Tulsa County sheriff changed jail medical bid requirements after meeting Echols, a donor whose company, Turn Key Health, sought the contract; Echols acknowledged asking for the change.
Sources: The Frontier, July 14, 2016, The Frontier, Oct. 20, 2016
- Credit2023-05-02
Authored HB 2095, giving the attorney general authority to investigate illegal marijuana operations; it passed the House 96 to 0 and was signed.
Sources: Oklahoma Legislature, HB 2095 (2023), The Frontier, May 21, 2026
- Credit2019-03-14
Principal House author of HB 2612, the medical marijuana Unity Bill that set up state regulation of the industry, signed March 14, 2019.
Sources: Oklahoma Legislature, HB 2612 (2019), The Frontier, May 21, 2026
- Credit2019-05-28
Co-authored HB 1269 with Democratic Rep. Jason Dunnington to make State Question 780 sentencing changes retroactive; signed into law.
Sources: StateImpact Oklahoma (NPR), Jan. 18, 2019, Oklahoma Legislature, HB 1269 (2019)
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. In March 2016 was one of 36 House members to vote against House Bill 2275, the felony-arrest DNA bill that Republican Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law.
Source: The Frontier, May 21, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Nick Coffey. Began a public town hall tour in Lawton in July 2026 and agreed to the Oct. 22, 2026 general election debate.
Sources: KSWO, July 29, 2026, NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026
Jon Echols. Debated his Republican primary opponent on May 18, 2026, and agreed to an Oct. 22, 2026 general election debate with Nick Coffey.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Nick Coffey. Years as an assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting organized crime and drug cases with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
Jon Echols. Twelve years in the Oklahoma House, eight as majority floor leader, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Nick Coffey. Served as a sworn federal prosecutor (assistant U.S. attorney) with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
Jon Echols. Took the oath as a state representative from 2012 to 2024 with no misuse-of-office finding and no recorded vote or legal filing to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Echols
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Nick Coffey. Assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma and earlier a lawyer at McAfee & Taft. No elected or senior government post.
Source: NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
Jon Echols. Six terms in the Oklahoma House (2012 to 2024), eight years as majority floor leader; attorney and health care company founder.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Echols, NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Nick Coffey. Published a first-100-days plan, including creating an Office of Public Integrity and enforcement against black-market marijuana grows, which fit the attorney general's powers.
Source: News 9, Oct. 2, 2026
Jon Echols. Longest-serving House majority floor leader (elected chamber leadership post, E5). Published a regional enforcement plan against illegal marijuana grows.
Sources: NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025, News 9, Oct. 2, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Nick Coffey. Three or more channels: completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, a campaign priorities page, and public town halls, plus an agreed general election debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Nick Coffey, Coffey for Attorney General, home page, KSWO, July 29, 2026
Jon Echols. Two channels documented: a campaign priorities page and televised debates. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Echols for Attorney General, Priorities, Ballotpedia, Jon Echols
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Nick Coffey. Fifth-generation Oklahoman who grew up in Oklahoma City, attended Bishop McGuinness and the University of Oklahoma. In-state share of contributions not available (state filings blocked).
Sources: NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026, NonDoc, Oct. 14, 2025
Jon Echols. Lifelong Oklahoman who represented a south Oklahoma City House district for 12 years. In-state share of contributions not available (state filings blocked).
Sources: Echols for Attorney General, home page, NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. Co-founded Turn Key Health Clinics in 2009 and served as its president; the company, now TK Health, provides medical care at 143 jails in Oklahoma and 13 other states.
Sources: NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026, The Frontier, Sept. 21, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Nick Coffey. As a federal prosecutor, was named 2023 Prosecutor of the Year by the U.S. Attorney's Office, and was one of the prosecutors on a marijuana trafficking case in which 10 defendants were sentenced to 463 months combined.
Sources: NonDoc, Sept. 28, 2026, U.S. Attorney's Office release, reprinted by Oklahoma City Free Press, May 12, 2025
Jon Echols. Principal House author of enacted laws including HB 2612 (2019), the medical marijuana Unity Bill that set up regulation, and HB 2095 (2023), which gave the attorney general marijuana enforcement authority.
Sources: Oklahoma Legislature, HB 2612 (2019), The Frontier, May 21, 2026, Oklahoma Legislature, HB 2095 (2023)
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. Partnered with Democratic Rep. Jason Dunnington on HB 1269 (2019), applying State Question 780 sentencing changes retroactively; it was signed into law.
Sources: StateImpact Oklahoma (NPR), Jan. 18, 2019, Oklahoma Legislature, HB 1269 (2019)
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Nick Coffey. No public record found.
Jon Echols. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Oklahoma attorney general race?
Nick Coffey has the strongest record in the Oklahoma attorney general race. Nick Coffey and Jon Echols each score 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026; Nick Coffey ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (58 to 50). Nick Coffey's highest marks are accountability and command of the job. Jon Echols's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Oklahoma attorney general race in 2026?
Nick Coffey (Democratic), Jon Echols (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Nick Coffey a good candidate for Attorney General?
Nick Coffey scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 58 of 100, qualifications 69 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jon Echols a good candidate for Attorney General?
Jon Echols scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Oklahoma race scored, and the Oklahoma 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.