TULSA, Okla. — Voters delivered a decisive message Tuesday night in the Tulsa School Board Election: reject division and invest in public education.
In two commanding school board races, Connie Dodson unseated incumbent E’Lena Ashley in District 4, while incumbent Susan Lamkin decisively held her seat in District 7. At the same time, voters approved all four propositions of a $609 million “Strong Schools, Strong Tulsa” bond package, signaling broad alignment around the future of Tulsa Public Schools.
Taken together, the results suggest voters rejected candidates aligned with MAGA-style education politics.
District 4: Voters remove incumbent E’Lena Ashley
In District 4, Dodson defeated Ashley with 63.7% of the vote (841 votes) to 36.3% (479 votes)—a decisive margin that underscores voter dissatisfaction with Ashley’s tenure.
Ashley, who had aligned herself with right-wing education politics and pursued a costly lawsuit against Tulsa Public Schools that drained more than $555,000 in taxpayer funds, became a focal point in the race.
Dodson, by contrast, ran on improving student outcomes, supporting teachers, and restoring fiscal accountability.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust District 4 families have placed in me,” Dodson said. “This victory belongs to everyone who believes our school board should focus on strengthening public education, not tearing it down. Starting today, we get to work putting students first, supporting our teachers, and bringing accountability back to TPS.”
Her message resonated across a broad coalition of parents, educators, labor unions, and community leaders.
“Tonight’s results send a clear message: Tulsa families want a school board member who will work for our schools, and fight for public education,” Dodson said. “They want someone focused on improving student outcomes, teacher support, and fiscal responsibility, not political theater and wasted taxpayer dollars.”
Ashley acknowledged the loss in a statement she posted to social media:
“I’m thankful for every supporter who has stood with me over the past four years. It has been an honor to serve and accomplish meaningful work on the Tulsa Public Schools Board. Congratulations to Connie Dodson—may God continue to bless our students and community.”
District 7: Incumbent Susan Lamkin wins decisively
In District 7, incumbent Susan Lamkin — the current TPS school board chair — secured a commanding re-election victory, defeating Michael Phillips with 69.2% of the vote (2,421 votes) to 30.8% (1,077 votes).
Lamkin’s nearly 40-point margin reflects strong voter confidence in her leadership, while voters also rejected her challenger’s approach.
Turnout in the District 7 Tulsa School Board election approached 3,500 voters, making it the highest-participation race—but the outcome echoed District 4: voters chose continuity and student-focused governance.
“We did it, Tulsa! I’d like to sincerely thank the people of District 7 for believing in me once again, and to everyone for your support. Together, we will continue to work hand-in-hand to build a bright future for ALL TPS students,” she wrote in a statement.
A $609 million vote of confidence in public education
Alongside the school board races, Tulsa voters approved all four propositions of the Strong Schools, Strong Tulsa bond package, a $609 million investment in facilities, technology, safety, and transportation.
The vote comes as the U.S. Department of Education faces renewed political pressure and proposed changes that could affect critical Title I funding—placing greater responsibility on states and local communities to support vulnerable students.
The bond includes:
- Nearly $500 million for school facilities and academic programming
- Over $100 million for technology and cybersecurity
- More than $27 million for transportation, including the return of driver’s education
“We are so thankful to the great city of Tulsa and its residents, who with their votes made it clear that access to safe learning environments and modern resources is a shared priority of the community,” said Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson. “Thanks to your support, we will continue the important work of investing in our young people while prioritizing student outcomes.”
The bond will not raise taxes and replace the district’s 2021 package.
Tulsa voters draw a line
Tulsa’s school board races are officially nonpartisan, but Tuesday’s results make clear that voters were responding to more than just names on a ballot.
Both losing candidates were widely viewed as aligned with MAGA-style education politics—an approach that has reshaped school board battles across the country through culture war issues, legal challenges, and ideological governance.
Supporters of those candidates, however, argued their campaigns were focused on transparency, parental involvement, and accountability in district decision-making.
However, both races exceeded 60%, a threshold that signals a mandate—not a divided electorate.
A city aligned around its schools in this year’s Tulsa School Board election
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols framed the moment as one of unity and forward momentum:
“What a proud moment for our city. Tulsa’s time is now, and our children deserve to be at the center of it all. Thank you to my fellow Tulsans for showing up to vote and for saying yes to a better future for our kids,” he said. “I also want to congratulate Dr. Johnson and the team at TPS. Way to go Tulsa!”
Business leaders echoed the sentiment.
“Tuesday’s passage of the four-part, $609 million bond package shows that the Tulsa community stands with our public schools and will invest in our future,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber.
With the races decided and the bond approved, the focus now shifts to governance. Board members will be tasked with overseeing the rollout of the $609 million investment and translating voter support into measurable outcomes for students across Tulsa Public Schools.
