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Democratic socialists notch another win in the Oklahoma Senate primary runoff
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Nurse N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, a 31-year-old Chickasaw Nation member and self-described democratic socialist, won the Democratic Senate primary runoff in Oklahoma, defeating attorney and minister Jim Priest despite being heavily outspent.
- Thomas will face Republican Rep. Kevin Hern in the general election for the open Senate seat, with Oklahoma being a strongly Republican state and Hern favored to win.
- Thomas supports progressive policies such as Medicare for All, universal childcare, parental leave, and abolishing ICE, but does not support defunding the Defense Department due to her background as a military spouse.
- Her victory reflects a broader trend of progressive and democratic socialist candidates making gains in recent primaries nationwide, appealing to voters seeking systemic change and "people-first" policies.
- Despite her primary win, Thomas faces a significant financial disadvantage heading into the general election, with only $456 in her campaign account compared to Hern’s $2.6 million.
