🌾 Jake Merrick’s 2026 Governor Run: The Little Campaign That Shocked Oklahoma Politics In a Republican gubernatorial primary dominated by millionaires, self-funders, PACs, consultants, and establishment networks, Jake Merrick pulled off something few expected. 📊 The Results: • Finished 4th statewide with roughly 14.9% of the vote (~54,000 votes). • Landed behind Drummond (~26.3%), Mazzei (~26.0%), and Keating (~18.5%). • Finished ahead of former House Speaker Charles McCall (~12.2%) and the rest of the field. • More than 400,000 Republicans cast ballots in the race. What makes that noteworthy isn’t just where he finished. It’s how he got there. 📈 Polls consistently had Merrick in the single digits for much of the race. Early surveys often showed him around 5-7%, trailing the better-funded candidates. Even late polling generally placed him around 10-12%. Yet on Election Day, he outperformed expectations and built one of the strongest grassroots showings in the field. 💰 The Money Gap Was Massive While other candidates spent millions, Merrick operated on what was essentially campaign pocket change by comparison. • Roughly $80,000-$82,000 raised and spent. • Opponents were spending millions. • Mike Mazzei alone poured more than $10 million of personal money into the race. Merrick rejected the traditional big-money model, instead campaigning on principle over politics, constitutional government, faith, family, freedom, property rights, child welfare reform, and anti-establishment conservatism. 👤 Who Is Jake Merrick? Many voters know him as a former Oklahoma State Senator, but his background extends well beyond politics. • Former State Senator for District 22. • Master of Divinity graduate. • College professor. • Business owner. • Pastor. • Radio host. Throughout the campaign, Merrick presented himself as a candidate unwilling to compromise with special interests, even arguing that his previous political setbacks came from refusing to play the insider game. 🗺️ Where His Message Hit Home His strongest performances came in rural and exurban counties where grassroots conservative voters remain highly engaged. Some standout areas included: • Major County (+21%) • Grady County (+12%) • McClain County (+3%) • Garfield County (+1.7%) • Canadian County (+1.5%) Those counties became proof that motivated voters can sometimes overcome financial disadvantages. ⚠️ The Limits The same factors that fueled his grassroots appeal also created obstacles. Merrick lacked the statewide name recognition, institutional backing, and financial resources available to the top-tier candidates. Urban and metro areas, particularly Oklahoma County, proved far more difficult terrain. 🔥 Why It Still Matters With roughly 14.5% of the vote, Merrick’s supporters now represent one of the most important voting blocs heading into the August 25 runoff. Their votes could play a major role in shaping the final outcome. Regardless of who ultimately wins the nomination, Merrick’s campaign demonstrated something many political professionals dislike hearing: A candidate with limited resources, a clear message, and a motivated grassroots base can still outperform expectations in Oklahoma. In an era dominated by million-dollar campaigns, that’s a story worth paying attention to. #OKPolitics #OKGOV #JakeMerrick #Grassroots #Oklahoma

Looking to improve crop yield? Understanding the importance of soil health is vital. Here's a look at how regenerative farming practices that nurture topsoil and its microbiome can improve crop growth 🌱 buff.ly/45rCACp #nematodes #pheromones #regenerativeagriculture