Why I support State Question 836 as a grassroots conservative

15 October 2025

By Caedmon Brooks

As a lifelong grassroots conservative and a proud resident of rural Oklahoma, I believe that power should reside with the people — not party bosses, urban elites, special interest groups, or the well-connected few. That’s why I strongly support State Question 836. This measure is a vital step toward restoring integrity to our political process and ensuring that the voices of everyday Oklahomans are heard, valued, and represented.

Since 2018, I’ve worked on political campaigns throughout our state, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is for regular citizens to compete with the influence of well-funded organizations and political insiders. Too often, elections reflect the agendas of special interest groups that have little in common with the communities they seek to influence.

This problem is compounded by the combination of Oklahoma’s closed primary system, in which only a very small percentage of Oklahomans participate, and the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allowed corporations and outside groups to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. In Oklahoma, these groups now pour millions into PACs and independent expenditures — especially in low-turnout primaries, where they can dominate the narrative. Meanwhile, local party leaders often stay neutral until the general election, which is frequently a foregone conclusion. That sidelines the grassroots and diminishes local influence.

State Question 836 offers a better path. It would establish an open primary system, where all candidates — regardless of party — appear on a single ballot. All voters, regardless of party affiliation, could participate in the primary, and the top two vote-getters would move on to the general election.

Some critics, especially within the Republican Party, claim this would weaken conservative candidates or boost Democrats. I believe the opposite is true. SQ 836 empowers grassroots conservatives by encouraging broader voter engagement and allowing local parties to endorse candidates early and openly. It also makes endorsements from community-rooted organizations — for instance, those defending gun rights or the rights of the unborn— more impactful. In short, candidates will need to earn support based on their values, ideas and connection to their communities, rather than relying on well-funded PACs and IEs to boost their name IDs with mailers, billboards and ads.

At its core, SQ 836 is about addressing an imbalance in our system that has favored well-funded special interest groups over real grassroots organization. For too long, national donors and political operatives have drowned out authentic, homegrown voices — especially in rural Oklahoma. This reform puts voters back in charge and gives grassroots candidates a fairer shot at being heard.

We shouldn’t fear giving power back to the people. That’s exactly what conservatives should champion. SQ 836 reflects our values: local accountability, individual responsibility, and government that works for the people it serves.