6/24: State Question 836 Supporters to Present Oral Arguments to Oklahoma Supreme Court, Participate in Norman Town Hall Meeting

16 June 2025

Supporters of Open Primaries will be defending their initiative petition – State Question 836 – in court on Tuesday, June 24, and then participating in a town hall style meeting in Norman later that day.

Oral arguments are set for SQ 836 at 10AM in the Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, located on the second floor of the State Capitol. During the approximately one-hour hearing, attorneys for SQ 836 petitioners will outline why their proposal for open primaries is constitutional and take questions from Supreme Court justices. The constitutionality of the initiative petition has been challenged by the Republican Party of Oklahoma.

 SQ 836 petitioner and retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander Tony Stobbe, a political independent, plans to attend the hearing and says he is looking forward to the opportunity to talk about open primaries.

 “There is real momentum in Oklahoma to create a system that allows every voter to vote in every election,” said Stobbe. “This fundamentally democratic concept challenges a status quo that gives party elites almost total control over our politics.  It comes as no surprise that they are throwing everything they can at it, including this lawsuit. Our legal team is excited to take their arguments head on.”

 Later that day, the League of Women Voters of Norman and Women in Action for All Norman are hosting a community conversation about open primaries and the future of Oklahoma elections. Oklahoma pollster and longtime Republican strategist Pat McFerron and former Minority Leader Emily Virgin, a Democrat, will lead a presentation on SQ836 and take questions from the crowd. The event will begin at St. Stephen’s Church in Norman at 6PM. It is free and open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged but not required at: https://ok-united.org/upcoming-events