The Ballot Brief
Okmulgee County, Oklahoma

Oklahoma House District 16

2 candidates are tracked for Oklahoma House District 16, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: David Nelson and Rose Rosie Lynch. Candidate information follows official Okmulgee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

David Nelson (Republican), Rose Rosie Lynch (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. Oklahoma nominates by June primary with an August runoff when no candidate reaches a majority; unopposed nominees still print, and independents qualify by filing. The field is the State Election Board's 2026 candidate list with the June 16 and August 25 official results and the Board's withdrawals list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

Oklahoma › Okmulgee County › Oklahoma House District 16

David Nelson

Republican

Top priorities
  • Supports education and workforce development initiatives
  • Supports community development and infrastructure investment

Per the campaign site.

Biography

David Nelson is a U.S. Army veteran who served with the 75th Ranger Regiment and later as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot in the 101st Airborne Division, per his campaign site. After retiring from the military in 2015, he worked in the oil and gas industry and previously owned the Morris Tag Agency, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Rose Rosie Lynch

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Combating homelessness, job instability and food insecurity
  • Addressing rural healthcare deficiencies, especially mental health and addiction recovery
  • Connecting essential services to underserved rural communities, including veterans' care

Per the 2024 candidate statement.

Biography

Rose Rosie Lynch is the Democratic candidate for Oklahoma House District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Oklahoma State Election Board's 2026 candidate list and official primary results. Rosie Lynch has worked across Okmulgee, Tulsa and Muscogee counties, including as interim executive director of a county homeless center, per her 2024 candidate statement to the Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Federation. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Tulsa. Lynch is running for the open District 16 seat on homelessness, rural healthcare and support for veterans. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Oklahoma House District 16 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Oklahoma House District 16, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: David Nelson and Rose Rosie Lynch. Candidate information follows official Okmulgee County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Oklahoma House District 16 election in Oklahoma?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Oklahoma are on the Oklahoma election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Okmulgee County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Okmulgee County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Oklahoma election office, or see the full Okmulgee County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Okmulgee County ballot

3 tracked races in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Oklahoma Senate District 8See all 3 Okmulgee County races
Candidate profiles
David Nelson, full profileRose Rosie Lynch, full profileOfficial Oklahoma election office