Democratic socialist N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas wins Oklahoma Senate primary

N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, a 31-year-old self-proclaimed democratic socialist and member of the Chickasaw Nation, won the Oklahoma Democratic Senate primary runoff on August 25, defeating attorney and minister Jim Priest, 70. The two advanced to the runoff after neither clinched a majority of the vote in the initial June primary. Thomas described herself as a democratic socialist but said she is "not yet" a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, per NBC News. As a military spouse, she does not support defunding the Defense Department, a position at odds with some DSA platform planks. She supports Medicare for All, universal childcare and parental leave, ensuring everyone pays their fair share, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to NBC News. When asked if she considered herself a capitalist or socialist, Thomas said "Capitalism is what's destroying our country right now," but later described capitalism as "inevitable," stating she supports people owning their own businesses and property. Thomas's pitch to voters has focused on healthcare, a critical issue as rural areas of the state struggle with access to quality care, according to NBC News. Hern will compete for the open seat left by former Senator Markwayne Mullin, now secretary of homeland security. Oklahoma is a solidly Republican state that President Donald Trump won by 34 points in 2024. Thomas's primary victory follows a pattern of democratic socialist candidates winning high-profile Democratic primaries in recent weeks, including in Florida's Senate race and a key House battleground in Michigan, according to NBC News. During the runoff campaign, Priest's operation spent $315,000 compared to Thomas's $57,000, according to Federal Election Commission filings reported by NBC News.