Logan County candidate filing complete; few contested races set for June primary

Candidate filing for Logan County offices wrapped up April 1–3, setting the stage for a limited number of contested races ahead of the June 16 Republican primary.

Several county offices were uncontested, meaning those candidates will automatically secure their next terms. Those include County Treasurer Sheri Longnecker, County Assessor Mary Murphey, District 1 Commissioner Mark Sharpton, District 3 Commissioner Monty Piearcy, District Attorney Jeremiah Gregory, and District Judge Katherine Thomas.

“I would like to thank the citizens of Logan County for believing in me for another four years as the Logan County Treasurer,” Longnecker said. “It has been an honor to serve the people of Logan County for the past 19 years.”

Murphey secured her second four-year term without opposition, continuing a trend after also running unopposed in her previous election. Piearcy, who has served since 2005, will also remain in his role. Sharpton, who previously served three terms from 2003 to 2015 before returning to office in 2022, was the lone candidate to file in District 1—a surprise in a race that has historically drawn multiple challengers.

Sharpton also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to continue serving.

“Serving in this role has brought me great joy, and it’s been a privilege to give back to the community I care so deeply about,” Sharpton said. “As I look ahead to my next term beginning in 2027, I remain committed to improving our roads and continuing to serve the people of District 1 and all of Logan County.”

Gregory, who will assume the District Attorney role without opposition, thanked supporters and outlined his goals moving forward. Current District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas did not seek re-election and is set to retire.

“I will work my hardest at this job, and I will work my hardest to earn your respect and trust as District Attorney,” Gregory said. “Whether or not I have made our counties a safer place to live is how I will measure success in this office.”

One of the more notable developments came in the District Judge race, where Jason Reese did not file following his recent appointment by Governor Kevin Stitt. Thomas, a longtime Payne County special judge, will assume the role and become the first female district judge serving Logan and Payne counties.

The only county-level contested race will be for Associate District Judge between Diane Vaughan and Sierra Pfeiffer. Vaughan was recently appointed as Logan County’s Associate Judge, following the passing of Judge Louis Duel, while continuing as Special Judge for Logan County. Pfeiffer currently serves as Deputy General Counsel for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and has prior experience as an assistant district attorney.

At the state level, Chuck Hall will seek his third and final term representing Senate District 20 and will face Mark LeMarr in the primary. In 2018, Chuck Hall received more than 70% of the vote to earn his seat in the Oklahoma Senate. The Perry native was later appointed chairman of the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committee in May 2024.

His challenger, Mark LeMarr, has served as pastor of CrossPointe Assembly Church in Crescent since 1989. LeMarr is also a former mayor of Cimarron City, has led the Crescent Chamber of Commerce, chaired the Logan County Hospital Foundation Board, and served on the Rural Water District No. 2 Board.

Another race to watch will be in House District 31, where incumbent Collin Duel will once again face Karmin Grider in the Republican primary.

The two previously met in the 2022 primary, where Duel led the initial vote with 2,208 votes (44.22%), followed by Grider with 1,737 (34.79%) and Logan Trainer with 1,048 (20.99%). Duel went on to win the runoff election by 206 votes, securing the seat.

Duel did not draw an opponent in 2024, earning his second term unopposed.

Grider previously ran for the seat in 2020, receiving 33.21% of the vote against then-incumbent Garry Mize, who chose not to seek reelection in 2022.

House District 38 will feature a crowded field as six Republicans and one Democrat filed to replace term-limited Rep. John Pfeiffer. Republican candidates include Jim Neal, Madison Bolay, Michael Norman, Suzanne Callihan, Danielle Deterding, and Brian Hobbs, while Doyle Lewis filed as a Democrat.

In House District 33, incumbent Molly Jenkins drew two challengers: Republican B.J. Roberson and Democrat Max Burchett Jr.

House District 32 incumbent Jim Shaw will also face opposition from Republican Jack Vaughan and Independent Andy Brown.