Tulsa Republican Club Issues Statement on Tulsa County DA Candidate Colleen McCarty

TULSA, OK (April 17, 2026) – Women for Tulsa and the Tulsa Republican Club are committed to civic engagement, policy education, and providing voters with meaningful access to candidates. Together, we determined to host statewide debates for selected races under clear, consistent standards to ensure fairness: dates set in advance by the committee, no pre-shared questions, limited participation in crowded races based on objective criteria, and no requirement for full candidate attendance.

 After establishing these parameters, debate dates were finalized and invitations extended to all eligible statewide candidates for the selected races. Upon learning of Mrs. McCarty’s candidacy to challenge Steve Kunzweiler for Tulsa County District Attorney, the committee determined that the race warranted inclusion and extended an invitation under identical terms on February 9, 2026. As the chief law enforcement officer and lead prosecutor of the District Attorney’s Office, in the second largest county in Oklahoma; we believe it is essential for candidates pursuing this role to engage directly with the public, address questions relevant to their qualifications and priorities while showing they won’t back away from a challenge.

Mrs. McCarty was the only candidate to demand preferential accommodations, including influence over scheduling, advance access to questions, and input on the moderator, requests that were not granted. Multiple efforts were made to engage her, but the organizations will not compromise their standards for any individual.

Additionally, the recent matter involving the Oklahoma Republican Party (OKGOP) and the Tulsa Republican Club has been resolved. Party leadership confirmed the Tulsa Republican Club has never presented itself as the party and acknowledged the situation was not handled appropriately and issued a personal apology to TRC leadership. In addition, TRC has never been formally affiliated with the OKGOP and has always operated independently. Legal counsel for the OKGOP advised that the organization does not have statutory authority to restrict public use of the term "Republican," and recommended against issuing a cease-and-desist; underscoring that the prior action was unwarranted. With that, the OKGOP Chair is focused on moving forward.

Ms. McCarty’s decision not to participate is her own. Candidates seeking public office are expected to engage openly with voters and withstand scrutiny. With over 185,000 registered Republicans in Tulsa County, declining to participate limits voters’ ability to make informed decisions.

During an already highly competitive primary election season, the spread of misinformation and unnecessary division only undermines candidates and the electoral process. Women for Tulsa and the Tulsa Republican Club remain focused on providing fair, transparent forums for voters ahead of the June 16 primary.