Oklahoma State Superintendent Candidate Forum (Elgin, OK) — Feb 16, 2026
Published: Feb 17, 2026 (Lawton Town Crier)
Event date: Feb 16, 2026
Location: Elgin, Oklahoma
Hosted by: Comanche County Republican Party (with Brady County GOP)
Coverage: Lawton Town Crier (LTC)
Overview
The Oklahoma State Superintendent Candidate Forum was held in Elgin, Oklahoma on February 16, 2026. The event featured Republican candidates seeking the office of Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction and provided voters an opportunity to hear candidate perspectives on education standards, literacy, teacher recruitment/retention, discipline and safety, parental involvement, funding, administrative efficiency, and election policy.
Video Archive
Video #1 (YouTube)
Watch: https://youtu.be/kwVRTk_mpgk?si=-QcJdGuPEQ0nSNLz
Video #2 (YouTube Live Archive)
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/live/y2W1SMtxd2U?si=mGJ1wmtTSyfGdPiE
Candidates Participating
- Dr. John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- Dr. James “JT” Taylor
Moderators
- Dr. Elizabeth Pleasant
- Jennifer Strand
Forum Format
- Welcome / Opening Remarks
- Invocation
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Opening Statements (2 minutes each)
- Moderated Questions (60 seconds each response)
- On-the-Spot Questions (2 minutes each response)
- Audience Questions
- Closing Statements
Key Topics Covered (Index)
- Social Studies Standards Revisions
- 3-Year Vision & Measurable Outcomes
- Third Grade Reading Proficiency / Science of Reading
- Teacher Recruitment & Retention
- Supporting All Students (advanced, struggling, special education, CTE pathways)
- Role of Parents in Education / Local Control
- School Safety & Discipline
- Education Funding & Administrative Efficiency
- State Question 836 (Open/Jungle Primary)
- Student Civic Engagement (walkouts / activism)
- Continued Service if Not Elected
- School District Consolidation / Shared Services
- Federal Department of Education / Block Grants (Title I, Special Education, Rural)
Transcript
A full transcript from the February 16, 2026 forum is archived by Lawton Town Crier for reference and research.
Note: Transcript text was captured from the livestream recording the night of Feb 16, 2026.
Related Pages
- Elections
- Elections in 2026
- Oklahoma State Superintendent (2026)
- State Question 836
- Lawton Town Crier — Politics
Tags
elections oklahoma education superintendent candidate-forum elgin southwest-oklahoma lawton-town-crier