U.S. House, Oklahoma 1st Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District?
John Croisant has the strongest record in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. John Croisant scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Mark Tedford at 60, as of October 9, 2026. John Croisant's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Mark Tedford's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
John Croisant
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Mark Tedford
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
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.
John Croisant
- On the record2026-10-01
Publicly challenged Mark Tedford to a debate with an independent moderator; the campaign said no host had offered a debate as of Oct. 1.
- On the record2026-01-15
Took moderator and audience questions at a public town hall convened by the Black Wall Street Times in Tulsa.
- On the record2025-02
Was board vice president when a 2025 state audit faulted the district; he said the board addressed the problems.
- On the record2020 to 2024
Served on the Tulsa Public Schools board when a former district administrator embezzled $603,992; Croisant said he does not hire staff and had no knowledge of the incidents.
Sources: NonDoc, March 27, 2024, Public Radio Tulsa, March 28, 2024
- Credit2023-04
Fellow Tulsa school board members reelected him board vice president in April 2023.
Source: KTUL, April 17, 2023
Mark Tedford
- On the record2026
The Frontier reported he was marked excused for more than 400 of 947 House votes in the 2026 session; his campaign said the absences were approved by leadership and fell on a few days.
Source: The Frontier, June 9, 2026
- On the record2026-03 to 2026-05
Loaned his congressional campaign about $600,000, according to federal filings reported by The Frontier.
Source: The Frontier, June 9, 2026
- On the record2026-10-01
His campaign did not respond to the Black Wall Street Times about John Croisant's debate challenge.
- On the record2025-05-08
Presented SB 726 on the House floor and described it as "a State Farm request bill"; the House defeated it 72 to 18.
- Credit2026-04-30
Principal House author of HB 2123 authorizing a second Arkansas River bridge near Bixby, which passed 84 to 3 and 47 to 0 and became law without the governor's signature.
Sources: Oklahoma Legislature, HB 2123 history, KJRH, April 28, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Croisant. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure is on file with the Clerk. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082782, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00895714
Mark Tedford. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure is on file with the Clerk. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082984, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00943175
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Croisant. No public record found.
Mark Tedford. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Croisant. Took audience and moderator questions at a Black Wall Street Times public town hall in January 2026 and publicly challenged his opponent to a debate with an independent moderator.
Sources: Black Wall Street Times, Jan. 9, 2026, Black Wall Street Times, Oct. 1, 2026
Mark Tedford. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Croisant. Tulsa Public Schools board member since July 2020, twice elected board vice president, with no formal conduct finding found.
Mark Tedford. State representative since November 2022 and an insurance executive since 1992. No censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Tedford, Oklahoma House member page
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Croisant. Has held sworn office on the Tulsa Public Schools board since 2020. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Croisant
Mark Tedford. Has held sworn office as a state representative since 2022. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mark Tedford
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Croisant. Elected Tulsa Public Schools board member since 2020 and board vice president; owns an insurance agency and taught social studies at Edison Prep.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Croisant, Public Radio Tulsa, Feb. 13, 2025
Mark Tedford. State representative for House District 69 since 2022, in his second term; runs Tedford Insurance, the company his parents founded.
Sources: Oklahoma House member page, The Frontier, June 9, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Croisant. Publishes priorities on costs, the economy, education and public safety in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Mark Tedford. Vice chair of the House Commerce and Economic Development Oversight Committee and its conference committee; publishes campaign priorities on immigration, spending and industry.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Croisant. Completed Ballotpedia's survey in 2024 and 2025, publishes issue pages, and took questions at a public town hall.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Croisant, Campaign site, Black Wall Street Times, Jan. 9, 2026
Mark Tedford. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes campaign priorities.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Tedford, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Croisant. Tulsa native and Jenks High School and University of Tulsa graduate. FEC by-state totals show about 99 percent of itemized contributions by state from Oklahoma ($93,390 of $94,285).
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Croisant, FEC contribution totals by state
Mark Tedford. Jenks High School graduate who lives in Tulsa County and represents a south Tulsa district. FEC by-state totals show about 94 percent of itemized contributions by state from Oklahoma ($370,701 of $395,451).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Tedford, Oklahoma House member page, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Croisant. Owns an insurance agency. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: Public Radio Tulsa, Feb. 13, 2025, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00895714
Mark Tedford. Runs his family insurance agency. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: The Frontier, June 9, 2026, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00943175
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Croisant. No public record found.
Mark Tedford. Principal House author of HB 2123, authorizing a second Arkansas River bridge near Bixby, which became law on April 30, 2026.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Croisant. No public record found.
Mark Tedford. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Croisant. No public record found.
Mark Tedford. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Croisant. No public record found.
Mark Tedford. His HB 2123 passed the House 84 to 3 and the Senate 47 to 0.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Croisant. No public record found.
Mark Tedford. 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 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District?
John Croisant has the strongest record in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. John Croisant scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Mark Tedford at 60, as of October 9, 2026. John Croisant's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Mark Tedford's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in 2026?
John Croisant (Democratic), Mark Tedford (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Croisant a good candidate for Congress?
John Croisant scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Mark Tedford a good candidate for Congress?
Mark Tedford scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 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, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Oklahoma 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.