Republican Robert Franklin defeated Democrat Jennettie Marshall on Nov. 3 to become Oklahoma's next superintendent of public instruction, according to unofficial results from the Associated Press and the Oklahoma State Election Board.

Franklin, 67, a longtime school administrator from Sand Springs, will succeed interim State Superintendent Lindel Fields. Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Fields in October 2025 after Ryan Walters resigned, Oklahoma Voice reported.

Franklin will take office in January 2027.

Results

As of 8:40 p.m. Nov. 3, with 59% of votes counted, Franklin held 68.2% of the vote, according to the OU Daily. The Oklahoman reported Franklin secured about 66% of the vote in unofficial results from the State Election Board.

Candidate

Party

Votes

Percentage

Robert Franklin

Republican

500,325

68.2%

Jennettie Marshall

Democrat

235,190

31.8%

Unofficial results as of 8:40 p.m. Nov. 3 with 59% of votes counted, per the OU Daily citing Associated Press data. Final certified totals may differ.

What Franklin has said

Franklin ran on a platform of depoliticizing the superintendent's office after the polarizing tenure of Walters. He campaigned on a "back to basics" approach focused on reading, math and expanding the state's career tech system, according to KOCO.

He spent more than 40 years in Oklahoma education, including roles as a special education teacher, high school principal, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent at Tulsa Tech, The Oklahoman reported in October. He teaches educational leadership at OU-Tulsa.

Franklin's campaign raised $240,000 in individual contributions, The Oklahoman reported. He was backed by the Oklahoma Education Association and the Greater OKC Chamber.

Marshall concedes

Marshall, 68, a former Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member and pastor, conceded to Franklin on election night, KRMG reported.

Marshall's campaign raised $16,900 in individual contributions, according to The Oklahoman.

What's ahead

The superintendent leads the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) and serves as president of the state board of education. The position carries a four-year term.

The race drew attention because of Oklahoma's low education rankings. Fewer than one in three Oklahoma public school students read at grade level during 2025 state reading tests, The Oklahoman reported in October. Franklin will oversee implementation of SB 1778, which reinstates mandatory third-grade retention beginning in 2027–28 for students who do not meet reading requirements and do not qualify for an exemption.

The Oklahoma State Election Board will certify final results in the coming weeks.