We, the Democrats of the State of Oklahoma, united under the banner of the oldest political party in the world, hereby rededicate ourselves to the principles which have historically sustained our party. While recognizing the limits of government, we regard democratic government as a force for good and a source of hope. We seek individual freedom in the framework of a just society. We pledge ourselves to uphold the United States Constitution and to work openly and honestly in our efforts to conduct public affairs in a manner worthy of a society of free and responsible citizens.

Both our country and our state are in peril. We face massive wealth and income inequalities among our citizens and the resultant divergence in health and educational outcomes; the environmental and financial costs of climate change; the challenges of global human migration in a chaotic world; and the rampant and willful spread of misinformation and disinformation.

The Oklahoma Democratic Party knows it is vitally important to ensure our federal and state governments are robust and fully equipped to successfully confront the challenges ahead. We are prepared to work collaboratively with our fellow Oklahomans, regardless of political party, to invest in and enrich our communities, rural and urban. Together, we will meet the challenges and opportunities before us with strength, determination, wisdom, and compassion.

Oklahoma Democrats stand firm in the battle against fear, hatred, bigotry, authoritarianism, and extreme partisan ideology that too often pervades our political discourse. We value community in all its forms, celebrate diversity, and will work to strengthen families of all types.

Protecting our state from extreme partisan ideology requires defending and strengthening our democratic institutions, namely our election processes. Democrats support secure, efficient, and accessible voting. We support expanding access to absentee or mail-in ballots and oppose any effort to eliminate “no excuse” absentee voting. Because it is critical for voters to make informed, individual choices, we favor removing straight-party voting as a ballot option.

The right to the initiative petition process is enshrined in the Oklahoma Constitution as a citizen-led backstop to democracy. We strongly oppose the recently enacted county signature collection limitations and other changes intended to cripple the initiative petition process. These changes are blatantly unconstitutional and designed to silence the voices of Oklahoma citizens.

Unconstitutional legislation such as this makes the impartiality and objectivity of our state court system all the more important. We continue to view the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) as the best method to nominate higher court judges. We oppose efforts to abolish the JNC or alter it in ways that would further politicize our state judiciary.

As we defend our state against extreme partisan ideology, we must strive to enact equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahomans. We must properly invest in our state government and public infrastructure, including common and higher education, transportation, mental health, Medicaid, and public safety. We must ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare, childcare, housing, and strong public education throughout our state.

Sustaining these public investments requires a progressive tax code where everyone contributes their fair share without undue hardship. We adamantly oppose legislative efforts to reduce income tax rates without also identifying replacement funding sources that are equitable and stable.

Oklahoma Democrats know that public education funding must go to public schools. We strongly oppose the diversion of public tax dollars to private school voucher and tax credit programs. We also oppose the unconstitutional authorization and state funding of religious charter schools.

The future of our state depends on innovation. Democrats support responsible business development and job creation, and we understand and appreciate the importance of agriculture, energy, aviation, and military installations to the continued prosperity of our state. We must continue to diversify our state’s economy. In addition to oil & gas production, we must strive to be a leader in wind, solar, and other clean, renewable energy sources.

We further recognize that labor unions are essential to a healthy balance between capital and labor. We cannot live in a prosperous state without both a vibrant business community and a skilled, dedicated labor force. Oklahomans deserve to live in a state where everyone has a chance at a decent job that pays a living wage. Democrats support the passage of State Question 832 that will raise the hourly minimum wage in Oklahoma to $15 by 2029.

We support allowing workers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to obtain driver’s licenses to more safely contribute to our state’s economy and care for their families.

Oklahoma exists on the lands of 39 sovereign Tribal Nations. We acknowledge that our prosperity as a state is intertwined with the prosperity of our Tribal Nation partners. We recognize and support tribal sovereignty. As a state, our relationship with Tribal Nations should always be based upon cooperation, communication, and mutual respect.

We respect bodily autonomy and know that trained and educated medical professionals are far better suited than politicians to direct the care of their patients. Medical care decisions, including reproductive rights and gender-affirming care, must be left to patients and their doctors. We refuse to move backward and will stand firm in defense of these rights.

We believe Oklahoma should be inclusive for all of us, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, or ability. Democrats are champions for human rights, and we will never hesitate to stand up for the most vulnerable and at-risk among us.

Oklahoma Democrats value knowledge, scholarship, and verifiable historical truth. Students and citizens of all ages must be engaged in an inclusive and age-appropriate way to critically think about difficult questions and issues. To that end, we support professional educators, librarians, and the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA). We fight against misinformation, historical censorship, book banning, and the destructive politicization of public education, academic standards, public libraries, and public broadcasting.

The Oklahoma Democratic Party approves this 2025 state platform as an Oklahoma Addendum to the 2024 Democratic Party Platform because we know the future of our great state is worth fighting for. In the words of President John F. Kennedy, “We are not here to curse the darkness, we are here to light a candle.”

Approved at the Oklahoma Democratic Party State Convention on June 29, 2025.
Resolutions Committee: Jeff Berrong, Krista Jones, Jared Deck, Amy Zacher, Debra Proctor