Payne County Democrats

Payne County Democrats coffee group: with elections this week and some of us are working the polls, there's a lot going on. So, I am postponing the get-together until next Wednesday, June 24th at 9am. Café Mona
Please reply here if you plan to come then.

We will meet again July 15th, as normal.

If you need help finding information about candidates for the June 16 Primary, here are some resources. More in the comments.

ELECTIONS — Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition 2026 Oklahoma Voter GuideJune Primary Edition This voter guide includes profiles on all state and federal primary elections in Oklahoma, along with information about State Question 832. We have provided clickable links within each candidate profile to direct you to websites and social media accounts...

Monthly General Meeting will be held this Thursday, June 11 from 6-8pm at our office, 901 S. Main St in Stillwater.
How are you preparing to turn Payne County blue? Disc ussion of future plans, past events, getting out the vote!

🗳️ Primary Elections are June 16th!!

What’s your plan to vote?
• 📬 Absentee: Mail your ballot TODAY.
• 🕒 Early Voting: At your County Election Board Thursday & Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• 📍 Election Day: Visit your regular precinct from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

📈 RAISE THE WAGE 📈
In addition to several important Democratic Primaries (for US Senate, Congress, Governor, State Superintendent, and local legislators and county officials), ALL VOTERS will also have a ballot for State Question 832 to raise the minimum wage.

I hope you’ll join me in voting YES. Here’s why:

• 💼 Raising the wage helps small businesses. In 2009, the last time Oklahoma raised the minimum wage, I owned and managed a restaurant. Like today, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association and other supposed pro-business organizations had us terrified that it was going to be a business killer. They were wrong then and they are wrong now. Because we paid our employees competitive wages well above the minimum, our staff averaged 2 years in our employment, which saved us thousands in training costs. Plus, more employees making more money means all businesses have more customers ready to spend.

• 🎈 Raising wages does not drive inflation. The cost of goods businesses buy and sell is driven by supply and demand in the national economy. Oklahoma’s minimum wage will not cause even a blip in the inflation we’re experiencing thanks to tariffs, foreign wars, and billionaire tax cuts. Raising the wage will have a billion-dollar positive impact on our state’s economy.

• 🗺️ Raising wages does not make us California. In fact, it makes us more like Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Florida, whose minimums range from $11 - $15 per hour today.

• ⚖️ Raising wages as costs rise is good policy. SQ 832 slowly raises our minimum pay to $15 by 2029. After that, this law takes the politics out of future raises by connecting it to the Consumer Price Index. If inflation climbs 2%, minimum wages match. That could equal $15.30 in 2030. It’s manageable, reasonable growth in line with costs should they rise.

🔗 For more information, check out Oklahoma Policy Institute:

SQ 832: Minimum Wage Increase | Information and Resources This page provides information and resources on the Oklahoma minimum wage increase ballot initiative (SQ 832). It will be updated throughout the election cycle.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1dtbCmbJxc/

✍ The Stillwegian is inviting free and paid members to submit endorsement letters for the June 16 primary — 150 to 300 words, your own thoughts, published on the record alongside candidate bios and questionnaire responses.

Local elections are decided by small margins. An endorsement letter from someone your neighbors know and trust carries real weight. This is your opportunity to tell your community why your candidate deserves their vote — in your own words, not a campaign's.

A few things to know before you submit:
— One candidate per letter. Submit separately for each candidate you endorse.
— Make a positive case. Letters that mention opposing candidates will be rejected without revision.
— Your thoughts, your writing. AI may help you polish — not think.

Deadline: 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, June 10.

Full guidelines and submission form 👇
https://www.thestillwegian.news/candidate-endorsement-letters-how-to-submit/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16JUpJtR8C/

While you're busy being bombarded with all the scary advertising against State Question 832... here's something to think about.

These four bright red Republican states have higher state minimum wages than Oklahoma's minimum. (Ours is the default federal minimum.)

Take a look at how they're doing.

If raising the minimum wage automatically meant job losses and business closures, we'd expect to see real evidence of that in these states. So far, the sky hasn't fallen.

What does that tell you about the claims being made against SQ832?

Payne County Election Board, OK Alert: Deadline to request an absentee ballot for the June 16th election is Monday, June 1st by 5:00 p.m.