Jena Nelson
D
Won the June 16, 2026 Democratic primary
Jena Nelson is a former public school teacher and 2020 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, now a nonprofit and corporate leadership professional, running as the Democratic candidate on protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and veterans' healthcare.[3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Supports restoring cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies and expanding Medicare's power to negotiate prescription drug prices.[3]
“I will fight to restore the cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies, and expand Medicare’s power to negotiate prescription medication prices.”
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Supports windfall profit taxes and stronger antitrust enforcement targeting corporate price manipulation, describing federal policy as favoring billionaires over working families.[3]
“We need to crack down on corporate greed with stronger antitrust enforcement, windfall profit taxes, and penalties for food and fuel price manipulation.”
In their words — priorities
- Protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and restore cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies.[3]
- Cut the cost of living for working families through stronger antitrust enforcement and penalties for food and fuel price manipulation.[3]
- Opposes cuts to veterans' healthcare, including reductions to VA hospitals and mental health crisis services.[3]
Background
- Earned a high school diploma from Broken Bow High School and a bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in 2001.[3]
- Worked as an educator for more than 16 years, winning Oklahoma Teacher of the Year in 2020 and helping students earn more than $4 million in scholarships.[3]
- Most recently served as acting Executive Director and Director of Programs for the Oklahoma Faith Network.[3]
- Ran for Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2022, earning more statewide votes than any other Democrat that cycle.[3]
Campaign money
Raised $449K · spent $432K · $17K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗