Superintendent of Public Instruction of Oklahoma · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction race?
Jennettie Marshall has the strongest record in the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction race. Jennettie Marshall scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Robert Franklin at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Jennettie Marshall's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Robert Franklin'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.
Republican
Robert Franklin
56 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 50
Democratic
Strongest record
Jennettie Marshall
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- 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.
Robert Franklin
- On the record2026-08
The Frontier rated "Mostly true" an opponent's debate claim that Franklin grabbed the child by the ears, which Franklin called inaccurate on stage, and rated "Mostly false" a claim he failed to report abuse.
- On the record2023-10
On Oct. 9, 2023, as board chair, he was one of two Statewide Virtual Charter School Board members to vote against a religious charter school the courts later struck down.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
- On the record2014
In 2014, at a camp for people with disabilities he founded, he grabbed a 12-year-old camper by the ears and scratched him; he acknowledged it and apologized in a voicemail and a 2026 statement.
Source: NonDoc, Aug. 6, 2026
- Credit2026-06
Endorsed in June 2026 by Craig McVay, who lost the Democratic primary for the same office.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, June 16, 2026
- Credit2024
Inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame in 2024.
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, Aug. 25, 2026, Robert Franklin campaign site
Jennettie Marshall
- Unresolved2024-01
In January 2024 she and Ashley sued board colleagues and two superintendents alleging Open Meetings Act violations; a judge granted the district summary judgment, and they appealed in April 2026.
Where it stands: Appeal filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court in April 2026; the district has moved for $9,014 in costs. Pending as of the check date.
- On the record2026-06
The Frontier rated "Mixed" her June 2026 debate claim that Mississippi's reading gains came from $15 million in added funding.
Source: The Frontier, June 8, 2026
- Credit2022-07
In July 2022 she and board member E'Lena Ashley asked Gov. Stitt for an audit of Tulsa Public Schools; the State Auditor's February 2025 report found lax money oversight.
Sources: NonDoc, July 7, 2022, KGOU, June 26, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Robert Franklin. Campaign finance reports are on file and were reported in the press ($128,446 raised after the June primary). No Ethics Commission order naming him found; an August 2026 commission statement on campaign video filmed at a school closed the matter after he removed it, with no penalty.
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, Aug. 18, 2026, Oklahoma Voice, Aug. 14, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Campaign spending is on file with the state Ethics Commission and was reported in the press. No Ethics Commission order naming her found.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, June 16, 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Robert Franklin. As chair of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in 2023, was one of two members who voted against approving a publicly funded religious charter school, a concept later struck down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. As a Tulsa school board member, co-signed the 2022 request to the governor for a state audit of her own district over the administration and board majority, and later sued board colleagues under the Open Meetings Act.
Source: NonDoc, July 7, 2022
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Robert Franklin. Took part in the June 2026 Republican primary debate and the televised Aug. 13 runoff debate. No 2026 general election debate with his opponent found as of the check date.
Source: NonDoc, Aug. 18, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Took part in the June 3, 2026 Democratic primary debate. No 2026 general election debate with her opponent found as of the check date.
Source: The Frontier, June 8, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Robert Franklin. Four decades in school and CareerTech administration and six years on a state board with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found. A 2014 camp incident he acknowledged is in the Record; it is over 10 years old and carried no official finding (E1).
Source: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Eight years on the Tulsa Public Schools board with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found. A district motion criticizing her litigation conduct is a party filing, not a finding (Record).
Source: Oklahoma Voice, June 16, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Robert Franklin. Served on the appointed Statewide Virtual Charter School Board from 2018 to 2024, four years as chair, with no finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Elected Tulsa school board member from 2017 to April 2025 with no finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jennettie Marshall
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Robert Franklin. Special education teacher, principal and district administrator in Sand Springs for 29 years, then associate superintendent at Tulsa Technology Center, and four years as chair of a state school board.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Eight years as an elected member of the Tulsa Public Schools board, the state's largest district; earlier careers in corrections, law enforcement and as a pastor.
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, June 16, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jennettie Marshall
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Robert Franklin. Published priorities (early literacy and numeracy, career pathways, teacher support) and campaigned on specific steps such as more counselors and behavioral health specialists and higher education partnerships for the teacher shortage; 2024 Educators Hall of Fame inductee.
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, Aug. 25, 2026, Robert Franklin campaign site
Jennettie Marshall. Released a six-pillar written platform for running the state Education Department (academics, school support, student well-being, educators, operations, rural education) and specific positions such as a $45,000 starting teacher salary.
Sources: News On 6, Sept. 17, 2026, Oklahoma Voice, May 29, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Robert Franklin. Two channels documented: a campaign issue page and 2026 primary and runoff debates. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Robert Franklin campaign site, Ballotpedia, Robert Franklin (Oklahoma)
Jennettie Marshall. Three channels documented: completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, a published written platform, and the 2026 primary debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jennettie Marshall, News On 6, Sept. 17, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Robert Franklin. From Sand Springs, where he spent the first 29 years of his education career. In-state share of contributions not available (state filings blocked).
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, Aug. 14, 2026, Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Tulsa resident who represented a Tulsa school board district for eight years. In-state share of contributions not available (state filings blocked).
Source: Oklahoma Voice, June 16, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Robert Franklin. Documented record running organizations: principal, associate superintendent at Tulsa Tech, chair of a state school board, and founder of a camp for people with disabilities in 1986. Size of organizations not stated in sources opened.
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026, NonDoc, Aug. 6, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Robert Franklin. As a state charter school board member and chair, took part in votes that prompted reforms at Epic Charter Schools, per Oklahoma Voice.
Source: Oklahoma Voice, March 30, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. Co-requested the 2022 investigative audit of Tulsa Public Schools; the State Auditor's 2025 report found lax money oversight, and criminal charges against a former executive followed in 2026.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Robert Franklin. No public record found.
Jennettie Marshall. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Robert Franklin. No public record found.
Jennettie Marshall. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Robert Franklin. Endorsed by Craig McVay, the defeated 2026 Democratic primary candidate for the same office, and by more than 175 current and retired local school superintendents.
Sources: Oklahoma Voice, June 16, 2026, News 9, Aug. 23, 2026
Jennettie Marshall. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Robert Franklin. No public record found.
Jennettie Marshall. 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 the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction race?
Jennettie Marshall has the strongest record in the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction race. Jennettie Marshall scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Robert Franklin at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Jennettie Marshall's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Robert Franklin'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 superintendent of public instruction race in 2026?
Robert Franklin (Republican), Jennettie Marshall (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Robert Franklin a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Robert Franklin scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jennettie Marshall a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction?
Jennettie Marshall scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 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, and the Oklahoma 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.