Attorney General of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Attorney General
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$132,825
2024 FY Budget:	$38,965,055
Term limits:	8 years
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Oklahoma Constitution, Article VI, Section 1
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Attorney General of Oklahoma Gentner Drummond Republican Party Assumed office: January 9, 2023
Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
Other Oklahoma Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Attorney General of Oklahoma is an elected executive position in the Oklahoma state government. The attorney general serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the state of Oklahoma and is responsible for advising the various agencies and departments of the executive branch, legislative branch and judicial branch of the state government. The office of attorney general prosecutes offenses of the Oklahoma state statutes, and advocates for the rights of Oklahoma's residents. The attorney general is elected in midterm elections and is limited to two full terms in office.

Oklahoma has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current Attorney General of Oklahoma is Gentner Drummond (R). Drummond assumed office in 2023.

Authority

The office of the Oklahoma Attorney General is established in Article VI, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Article VI, Section 1:

A. The Executive authority of the state shall be vested in a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance and other officers provided by law and this Constitution, each of whom shall keep his office and public records, books and papers at the seat of government, and shall perform such duties as may be designated in this Constitution or prescribed by law. B. The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the term of the Governor.

Qualifications

Article VI, Section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:

• a citizen of the United States.
• at least 31 years old.
• a qualified elector of Oklahoma for the 10 preceding years.

No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction except a citizen of the United States of the age of not less than thirty-one (31) years and who shall have been ten (10) years next preceding his or her election, or appointment, a qualified elector of this state.

Elections

Oklahoma state government organizational chart

The Attorney General of Oklahoma is elected every four years in midterm election years (e.g. - 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, etc.).

2022

See also: Oklahoma Attorney General election, 2022

General election

General election for Attorney General of Oklahoma

Gentner Drummond defeated Lynda Steele in the general election for Attorney General of Oklahoma on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gentner Drummond (R)	73.8	792,466
		Lynda Steele (L)	26.2	281,923

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,074,389
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma

Gentner Drummond defeated incumbent John O'Connor in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Gentner Drummond	50.9	180,444
		John O'Connor	49.1	174,256

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 354,700
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Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Lynda Steele advanced from the Libertarian primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma.

2018

See also: Oklahoma Attorney General election, 2018

General election

General election for Attorney General of Oklahoma

Incumbent Mike Hunter defeated Mark Myles in the general election for Attorney General of Oklahoma on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Hunter (R)	64.0	750,769
		Mark Myles (D)	36.0	421,699

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,172,468 (100.00% precincts reporting)
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Oklahoma

Incumbent Mike Hunter defeated Gentner Drummond in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Oklahoma on August 28, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Hunter	50.0	148,419
		Gentner Drummond	50.0	148,148

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 296,567
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma

Mark Myles advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Mark Myles

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma

Incumbent Mike Hunter and Gentner Drummond advanced to a runoff. They defeated Angela Bonilla in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Oklahoma on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mike Hunter	44.5	191,499
✔		Gentner Drummond	38.5	165,613
		Angela Bonilla	17.1	73,590

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 430,702
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2014

See also: Oklahoma attorney general election, 2014

Republican incumbent Scott Pruitt won election without opposition on November 4, 2014.

Full history

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Oklahoma Attorney General, click [show] to expand the section.

2010 On November 2, 2010, Scott Pruitt won election to the office of Oklahoma Attorney General. He defeated Jim Priest (D) in the general election. Oklahoma Attorney General, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Scott Pruitt 65.1% 666,407      Democratic Jim Priest 34.9% 357,162 Total Votes 1,023,569 Election results via Oklahoma State Board of Elections. 2006 On November 7, 2006, Drew Edmondson won re-election to the office of Oklahoma Attorney General. He defeated James Dunn (R) in the general election. Oklahoma Attorney General, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Drew Edmondson Incumbent 61.2% 563,364      Republican James Dunn 38.8% 357,267 Total Votes 920,631 Election results via Oklahoma State Board of Elections. 2002 On November 5, 2002, Drew Edmondson won re-election to the office of Oklahoma Attorney General. He defeated Denise A. Bode (R) in the general election. Oklahoma Attorney General, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Drew Edmondson Incumbent 60.1% 615,932      Republican Denise A. Bode 39.9% 408,833 Total Votes 1,024,765 Election results via Oklahoma State Board of Elections.

Term limits

Term limits for the attorney general are defined in Article VI, Section 4 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which prevents an attorney general from serving for more than eight years, or two full terms.

Oklahoma Constitution, Article VI, Section 4C:

No person shall be eligible to serve as Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor or Superintendent of Public Instruction for a period of time in excess of eight (8) years. Such years need not be consecutive. Any years served by a person elected or appointed to serve less than full term to fill a vacancy in any such office shall not be included in the limitations set forth herein. Any person serving in such position at the time of passage of this amendment shall be eligible to complete the term for which he or she has been elected and shall be eligible to serve an additional eight (8) years thereafter, notwithstanding the provisions of this amendment.

Vacancies

Under Article 6, Section 13 of the state constitution, in the event of a vacancy in the office the governor appoints a person to serve until a successor is either elected or appointed and qualified by law.

Duties

The official duties of the attorney general are outlined in §74-18 of the Oklahoma State Code:

“

To appear for the state and prosecute and defend all actions and proceedings, civil or criminal, in the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals in which the state is interested as a party; To appear for the state and prosecute and defend all actions and proceedings in any of the federal courts in which the state is interested as a party; To initiate or appear in any action in which the interests of the state or the people of the state are at issue, or to appear at the request of the governor, the legislature or either branch thereof, and prosecute and defend in any court or before any commission, board or officers any cause or proceeding, civil or criminal, in which the state may be a party or interested; and when so appearing in any such cause or proceeding, the attorney general may, if the attorney general deems it advisable and to the best interest of the state, take and assume control of the prosecution or defense of the state's interest therein; To consult with and advise district attorneys, when requested by them, in all matters pertaining to the duties of their offices, when said district attorneys shall furnish the attorney general with a written opinion supported by citation of authorities upon the matter submitted; To give an opinion in writing upon all questions of law submitted to the attorney general by the legislature or either branch thereof, or by any state officer, board, commission or department, provided, that the attorney general shall not furnish opinions to any but district attorneys, the legislature or either branch thereof, or any other state official, board, commission or department, and to them only upon matters in which they are officially interested; At the request of the governor, state auditor and inspector, state treasurer, or either branch of the legislature, to prosecute any official bond or any contract in which the state is interested, upon a breach thereof, and to prosecute or defend for the state all actions, civil or criminal, relating to any matter connected with either of their departments; Whenever requested by any state officer, board or commission, to prepare proper drafts for contracts, forms and other writing which may be wanted for the use of the state; To prepare drafts of bills and resolutions for individual members of the legislature upon their written request stating the gist of the bill or resolution desired; To enforce the proper application of monies appropriated by the legislature and to prosecute breaches of trust in the administration of such funds; To institute actions to recover state monies illegally expended, to recover state property and to prevent the illegal use of any state property, upon the request of the governor or the legislature; To pay into the state treasury, immediately upon its receipt, all monies received by the attorney general belonging to the state; To keep and file copies of all opinions, contracts, forms and letters of the office and to keep an index of all opinions, contracts and forms according to subject and section of the law construed or applied; To keep a register or docket of all actions, demands and investigations prosecuted, defended or conducted by the attorney general in behalf of the state. Said register or docket shall give the style of the case or investigation, where pending, court number, office number, the gist of the matter, result and the names of the assistants who handled the matter; To keep a complete office file of all cases and investigations handled by the attorney general on behalf of the state; To report to the legislature or either branch thereof whenever requested upon any business relating to the duties of the attorney general's office; To institute civil actions against members of any state board or commission for failure of such members to perform their duties as prescribed by the statutes and the state constitution and to prosecute members of any state board or commission for violation of the criminal laws of this state where such violations have occurred in connection with the performance of such members' official duties; To respond to any request for an opinion of the attorney general's office, submitted by a member of the legislature, regardless of subject matter, by written opinion determinative of the law regarding such subject matter; To convene multicounty grand juries in such manner and for such purposes as provided by law; provided, such grand juries are composed of citizens from each of the counties on a pro rata basis by county; To investigate any report by the state auditor and inspector filed with the attorney general pursuant to Section 223 of this title and prosecute all actions, civil or criminal, relating to such reports or any irregularities or derelictions in the management of public funds or property which are violations of the laws of this state; To represent and protect the collective interests of all utility consumers of this state in rate-related proceedings before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission or in any other state or federal judicial or administrative proceeding; To represent and protect the collective interests of insurance consumers of this state in rate-related proceedings before the state insurance property and casualty rate board or in any other state or federal judicial or administrative proceeding; and To investigate and prosecute any criminal action relating to insurance fraud, if in the opinion of the attorney general a criminal prosecution is warranted, or to refer such matters to the appropriate district attorney.

”

Divisions

As of January 11, 2021, divisions within the Attorney General's Office included:

• Criminal Appeals
• Criminal Justice
• Fraud Prevention and Prosecution Division
• Legal Services
• Litigation
• Public Protection
• Solicitor General

State budget

See also: Oklahoma state budget and finances

The budget for the Attorney General's office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $38,965,055.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

Title 74, Chapter 10, Section 250.4 (§74‑250.4) of the Oklahoma Statutes sets the attorney general's annual salary equal to that of the presiding judge of the state Court of Civil Appeals. The amount of compensation is prescribed by law, pursuant to Article VI, Section 34 of the Oklahoma Constitution:

Each of the officers in this article named shall, at stated times, during his continuance in office, receive for his services a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected; nor shall he receive to his use, any fees, cost, or perquisites of office or other compensation.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $132,825, according to the Council of State Governments.

2021

In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825, according to the Council of State Governments.

2020

In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2019

In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2018

In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2017

In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2016

In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2015

In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2014

In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $132,825 according to the Council of State Governments.

2013

In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated $132,850. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

2010

In 2010, the attorney general was paid an estimated $132,850 according to the Council of State Governments.

Historical officeholders

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Attorney General of Oklahoma has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

List of Officeholders from 2017-Present
#	Name	Tenure	Party
1	Mike Hunter	2017-2021	Republican
2	John O'Connor	2021-2023	Republican
3	Gentner Drummond	2023-present	Republican

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Oklahoma Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Attorney General of Oklahoma - Google News

Contact information

Office of the Attorney General
313 NE 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Phone: 405-521-3921
Fax: 405-521-6246

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General