A pair of youth governor programs sponsored by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) have elected their leaders for 2026.

The first is the Oklahoma Kid Governor program, in conjunction with the Connecticut Democracy Center’s national program, designed to empower 5th graders to change the world.

This ground-breaking approach to civics education immerses students in a real election for each participating state’s Kid Governor, a fellow 5th grader who will represent their home state during a one-year term of active leadership. In total, 1,187 students from across Oklahoma participated in the program this year.

• Oklahoma’s Kid Governor for 2026 is Katelyn Talley, a 5th grader from Valliant in southeastern Oklahoma. Her platform is animal abuse prevention. In addition to the Kid Governor, 5th graders in participating classrooms also elected a Kid Lieutenant Governor and Kid Secretary of State.

• The Kid Lieutenant Governor is Sophia Chavarria Rivera, a 5th grader from Bethany, and her platform is the prevention of bullying.

• The Kid Secretary of State is Daphne Tanequodle, a 5th grader from Lawton, who was elected with a platform of addressing homelessness.

The Kid Governor was elected in a statewide election based upon a local classroom election. Each student candidate chose an issue on which to run, and the classroom voted for their favorite, a process which replicates voting in a Primary Election. The winners then recorded a two-minute campaign video which was submitted into the statewide competition where the students voted a second time from among the statewide candidates, simulating a General Election.

A panel comprised of Oklahoma’s former governors – David Walters, Frank Keating, Brad Henry and Mary Fallin – and OICA board members narrowed the field to the finalists.

The campaign videos for the finalists were shared with each participating school from 37 classrooms from across the state. The students cast their votes on ballots that resemble the actual Oklahoma ballots, and the election was timed to coincide with Election Day in November.

The winning candidate serves a one-year term promoting leadership and advocacy, working with OICA to fulfill their campaign platform while mobilizing students to take action and make a difference on youth issues. The remaining finalists will serve as members of the Kid Cabinet, working with the Kid Governor to raise awareness on their platform issues. The cabinet will spend the year speaking to civic organizations and other such programs to promote their platforms and encourage civic engagement. OICA provides support to the families by providing mileage reimbursements for their official visits.

Toolkits consisting of free, custom-designed lesson plans reflecting Oklahoma guide classroom teachers through the program and teach students about state government in their state, the history and process of voting, and the importance of active participation in civic life. The program only educates about the process, and students choose their campaign issues on their own with guidance and support from the local teacher. OICA is underwriting the cost of the program through donations and fundraisers with the state’s former governors.

In addition to the Kid Governor program, OICA co-sponsors with Oklahoma 4-H a “Junior Governor” program for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. This program brought more than 40 interested 4-H students together for a conference in Stillwater at the State 4-H Office on Nov. 1, where they learned about state government and then elected the Junior Governor and Junior Cabinet. The winners of the 4-H Junior Governor elections, their schools and platforms are:

• Junior Governor Riley Braden, from Brisco in Creek County. Riley is home schooled and ran on a platform to protect and promote the sanctity of life.

• Junior Lieutenant Governor is Whitlee Moser from Perkins in Payne County. Whitlee attends Perkins Tryon Intermediate School and ran on a platform of education.

• Junior Secretary of State is Riley Rudder from Fort Towson. Riley attends Rattan Elementary in Pushmataha County and ran on a platform of turtle conservation

• The first Junior Cabinet Member is Lizzie Marlin from Adair in Mayes County. Lizzie attends Bernita Hughes Elementary and ran on the platform of smoking prevention and education.

• The second Junior Cabinet Member is Victoria Justice from Depew in Creek County. Victoria is homeschooled and her platform is to prevent debt collectors from making spam calls.

The student leaders will be inaugurated during a ceremony at the State Capitol on Feb. 2, 2026, the opening day of the Oklahoma Legislature’s session.

“The Kid Governor program and the Junior Gov- ernor inspire students to be involved in the process and hopefully become lifelong agents of change for the better, maybe even running for Governor of Oklahoma someday,” Dorman said. “If young people are given an opportunity to learn these lessons at an early age, they will grow into the leaders that will shape our tomorrow.”

The outgoing Kid Cabinet members who served in 2025 are: Kid Governor Emma Stephens from Ardmore; Kid Lt. Gov. Shawn Ferrell from Orlando; Kid Secretary of State Lawson Ream from Alva; and Kid Cabinet members Clayton Rohla from Roff, Ryan Young from Chickasha, Koda White from Vici, Alburto Harmon from Perry and Harper Witt from Antlers.

OICA annually budgets costs for operating the programs and providing reimbursements for costs. For more information about how you can help support the Kid Governor program with a donation, contact OICA at info@oica.org or call (405) 236-KIDS (5437).