Gubernatorial candidate Jake Merrick and lieutenant governor candidate JJ Humphrey addressed supporters during a recent campaign stop, outlining their positions on government oversight, education, property taxes, marijuana regulation and state agency reform.
The event included opening remarks from Merrick, followed by an extended address from Humphrey, who focused heavily on allegations of corruption within state government.
— Merrick: “Family First” Campaign
Merrick, a former state senator and pastor, introduced himself by sharing his personal background, including his education at Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his family’s adoption experience through Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services (DHS).
He described his campaign as “family first,” emphasizing parental authority, opposition to abortion and protection of homeschooling freedoms in Oklahoma.
Merrick said Oklahoma is among the freest states for homeschool families and expressed opposition to additional regulation or government funding tied to homeschool oversight.
He also criticized DHS, alleging systemic corruption and calling for what he described as a “massive dismantling” and restructuring of the agency. Merrick referenced reports of agencies requesting funding without providing itemized breakdowns and said he supports a state-level review of government spending similar to the federal “Doge” effort.
— Property Tax Reform During a question- and-answer session, Merrick addressed concerns about eliminating or reducing property taxes.
He said he supports removing property taxes on homesteaded property once it is paid off, arguing that homeowners should not risk losing property due to unpaid taxes.
Merrick acknowledged concerns about replacing lost revenue and discussed potential options including phased elimination, sales tax adjustments, or structural reforms at the county level. He also expressed support for reducing or eliminating the state income tax.
Merrick raised concerns about foreign ownership of Oklahoma land, stating that loopholes still allow foreign entities to purchase property in the state.
He also criticized what he described as abuse of eminent domain authority by state agencies and energy developers.
— Marijuana Regulation When asked about Oklahoma’s medical marijuana system, Merrick said he does not support undoing legalization but believes additional regulation is necessary.
He cited concerns about overproduction, ease of obtaining medical cards, foreign ownership in grow operations and the sale of synthetic substances such as kratom in gas stations. He said marijuana can have medical benefits but must be properly regulated.
— Humphrey focuses on corruption claims Lieutenant governor candidate JJ Humphrey, a current state representative and former law enforcement officer, devoted the majority of his remarks to allegations of corruption across multiple state agencies.
Humphrey said his priority is exposing and addressing what he described as misuse of public funds within DHS, the Department of Corrections, the Attorney General’s office and other state agencies.
He referenced:
• Allegations of unaccounted DHS funds
• Concerns about Department of Corrections contracts and compensation decisions
• Questions about broadband funding distribution • Allegations related to state procurement practices Humphrey said he is seeking the office of lieutenant governor rather than state auditor because he believes the position would give him a stronger platform to influence Senate operations and state oversight.
He characterized himself as a candidate willing to confront leadership and challenge existing structures within state government.
— Themes of the Evening Throughout the event, both candidates emphasized: • Reducing government size and spending
• Increasing transparency and audits
• Protecting parental rights
• Restructuring state agencies
• Limiting foreign land ownership
• Addressing property tax reform The meeting concluded with informal discussion between attendees and candidates.
