U.S. House, Oklahoma 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated October 9, 2026

Who should I vote for in Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District?

Stephanie Bice has the strongest record in Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District. Stephanie Bice scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Stephanie Bice's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Robert P. Henri (4 of 15 criteria), Jena Nelson (6 of 15 criteria) and Austin Nieves (1 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Republican · incumbent

Strongest record

Stephanie Bice

65 / 100

Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria

Character: 33
Qualifications: 80
Performance: 69

Campaign site Official office FEC filings

Independent

Robert P. Henri

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 50
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Democratic

Jena Nelson

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 50
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Independent

Austin Nieves

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria

Character: NR
Qualifications: 25
Performance: NR

FEC filings

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.

Stephanie Bice

Mark against2024-08-10
Reported two 2023 Treasury bill purchases on Aug. 10, 2024, past the STOCK Act 45-day deadline, as shown on the Clerk record and reported by Newsweek and Sludge.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20025620, Newsweek, Sept. 9, 2024, Sludge, Aug. 16, 2024
On the record2026-09-29
Her campaign declined a NonDoc proposal for a general election debate "at this time," saying she meets voters at community events and telephone town halls.
Source: NonDoc, Sept. 30, 2026
On the record2021-01-06
Voted Yea on the objections to Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
On the record2020
Took part in Republican primary and runoff debates and at least three general election debates in her 2020 race against Rep. Kendra Horn.
Source: NonDoc, Sept. 30, 2026
Credit2025
Was the primary sponsor of H.J.Res. 24, a congressional disapproval resolution enacted into law.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation

Robert P. Henri

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Jena Nelson

On the record2026-09-30
Has challenged Rep. Stephanie Bice to debate for months; Bice's campaign declined NonDoc's debate proposal and cited Nelson's disclosure filing and campaign debt, which Nelson disputes.
Source: NonDoc, Sept. 30, 2026
Credit2020
Was named Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2020 after more than 16 years teaching English and theater.
Source: NonDoc, June 4, 2026

Austin Nieves

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Who they are

Character

Integrity

Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.

1 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Her Aug. 10, 2024 periodic transaction report disclosed two Treasury bill purchases from June and September 2023, past the 45-day deadline, as reported by Newsweek and Sludge. Annual disclosure for 2025 filed Aug. 10, 2026 after an extension.

Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20025620, Newsweek, Sept. 9, 2024, Sludge, Aug. 16, 2024, House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077486

2 / 4

Robert P. Henri. 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 10076274, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00946541

2 / 4

Jena Nelson. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and a House candidate financial disclosure is on file with the Clerk (filed Sept. 20, 2026). No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10080049, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00911982

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Courage

Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.

Stephanie Bice. No public record found.

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Accountability

Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.

Stephanie Bice. No public record found.

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Temperament and judgment

Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.

2 / 4

Stephanie Bice. State senator from 2014 to 2020 and in Congress since January 2021, with no censure, reprimand or House Ethics Committee matter found.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Stephanie Bice, House Committee on Ethics site search

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Fidelity to the oath

Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.

1 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Voted Yea on the January 2021 objections to the certified electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania, days after taking office.

Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021 (Arizona objection), House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021 (Pennsylvania objection)

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

What they bring

Qualifications

Relevant experience

Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.

4 / 4

Stephanie Bice. In the U.S. House since January 2021, in her third term, after six years in the Oklahoma Senate.

Source: Ballotpedia, Stephanie Bice

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

2 / 4

Jena Nelson. Taught English and theater for more than 16 years, was 2020 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, and later led programs and served as executive director of the Oklahoma Faith Network. Has not held public office.

Source: NonDoc, June 4, 2026

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Command of the job

Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.

4 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Chairs the House Administration Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation and is vice chair of the Appropriations transportation and housing subcommittee.

Source: GovTrack, committee membership

2 / 4

Robert P. Henri. Publishes a platform of government accountability reforms, including congressional term limits and a ban on congressional stock trading.

Source: Campaign site

2 / 4

Jena Nelson. States positions on health care costs, Social Security and Medicare, and restoring funding cut by the 2025 reconciliation law, mostly in general terms.

Source: NonDoc, June 4, 2026

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Communication

Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.

2 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Offers an e-newsletter and weekly columns and publishes issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, Stephanie Bice

2 / 4

Robert P. Henri. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes an issues platform.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Robert P. Henri, Campaign site

2 / 4

Jena Nelson. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and gave interviews to NonDoc; her campaign site returned HTTP 403.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Jena Nelson, NonDoc, June 4, 2026

1 / 4

Austin Nieves. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, and no campaign website or published issue statement was found.

Source: Ballotpedia, Austin Nieves

Roots in the constituency

Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.

4 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Oklahoma City native and Putnam City High School graduate. FEC by-state totals show about 63 percent of itemized contributions by state from Oklahoma ($610,837 of $966,999).

Sources: Ballotpedia, Stephanie Bice, FEC contribution totals by state

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

2 / 4

Jena Nelson. Lives in Edmond, in the district, with her family. FEC by-state totals show about 85 percent of itemized contributions by state from Oklahoma ($226,275 of $265,607).

Sources: NonDoc, June 4, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Management

Can build and run an organization.

2 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Worked as vice president of business development at a digital marketing company. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Stephanie Bice, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00703843

2 / 4

Robert P. Henri. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.

Source: FEC administrative fines search, committee C00946541

2 / 4

Jena Nelson. Has run a nonprofit as its executive director and owns a small business. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.

Sources: NonDoc, June 4, 2026, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00911982

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

What they deliver

Performance

Results

Turns ideas into outcomes.

3 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.778 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.194, rated meets expectations; her resolution H.J.Res. 24 was enacted, and her office reports $2.7 million in fiscal 2026 community project funding.

Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation, Office site, home page

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Showing up

Does the basic work of the job.

4 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Missed 15 of 2,915 roll call votes, 0.5 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.

Source: GovTrack, missed votes

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Constituent service

Solves problems for the people they represent.

2 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Lists one district office, in Oklahoma City, and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.

Source: Office site, home page

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Coalition building

Wins support beyond their own faction.

2 / 4

Stephanie Bice. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.12984 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 159 of 436.

Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. No public record found.

Stewardship of public money

Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.

Stephanie Bice. No public record found.

Robert P. Henri. No public record found.

Jena Nelson. No public record found.

Austin Nieves. 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 5th Congressional District?

Who is running in Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District in 2026?

Stephanie Bice (Republican, incumbent), Robert P. Henri (Independent), Jena Nelson (Democratic), Austin Nieves (Independent). The general election is November 3, 2026.

Is Stephanie Bice a good candidate for Congress?

Stephanie Bice scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 33 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Robert P. Henri a good candidate for Congress?

Robert P. Henri has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Jena Nelson a good candidate for Congress?

Jena Nelson has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Austin Nieves a good candidate for Congress?

Austin Nieves has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

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.