It’s Johnson vs. Cubit for OK County Sheriff, round 2!
The race is on once again for Oklahoma County Sheriff between Democrat Waylon Cubit and Republican incumbent Sheriff Tommie Johnson who won the 2020 election. Wayland Cubit has announced his second candidacy for Oklahoma County Sheriff, challenging incumbent Sheriff Tommie Johnson III. This is a rematch of the close race in 2020. Johnson, a Republican, gained 52.81% of the votes in the 2020 election, while Cubit, a Democrat, received 47.19% in the general election in November. Each candidate is an experienced law enforcement professional, not required to run for county sheriff. Johnson has been in office nearly four years and his term officially expires in 2025. In a press release, Cubit promised to keep all citizens safe and protect their children.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Brett Dickerson - Editor in
OKLAHOMA CITY — Wayland Cubit issued a news release Thursday announcing his second candidacy for Oklahoma County Sheriff challenging incumbent Sheriff Tommie Johnson III.
It is a rematch of the 2020 campaign that took each candidate through a primary in their respective parties before facing each other in a tight race.
In the 2020 election, Johnson, a Republican, gained 52.81% of the votes compared to Cubit, a Democrat, who received 47.19% of the total of 290,893 votes in the general election in November.
Now, since the last race was so close, it promises to be a spirited one again, this time with a nearly four-year track record of Johnson’s as Sheriff.
Johnson’s campaign staff confirmed with Free Press later the same day that he had filed for re-election Wednesday.
Each is an experienced, law enforcement professional which is NOT a requirement for running for county sheriff in Oklahoma.
Cubit retired as a lieutenant from the Oklahoma City Police Department after decades of service and then as the Chief of Security for the Oklahoma City Public Schools for the last two years.
Johnson was a Norman police officer before becoming Sheriff and has been the Oklahoma County Sheriff since his 2021 swearing-in. His term officially expires in 2025.
2020 saw the most hotly-contested race for Oklahoma County Sheriff in many decades.
The Sheriff before Johnson was P.D. Taylor who Johnson defeated in the 2020 Republican primary. It was a major, although not surprising, upset because of the many years of long terms of the Oklahoma County Sheriff.
Taylor had been the Undersheriff for 20-year Sheriff John Whetsel before becoming the interim Sheriff after Whetsel’s resignation in 2017.
Before Whetsel, Sheriff J.D. Sharp had been in office for four terms from 1981 to 1997 before losing to Whetsel.
After Sharp’s long career in law enforcement, what the public had most in mind in the lost 1996 race were the problems with the then-new Oklahoma County Jail that quickly became infamous for its problems from its first year, 1991.
In a press release in the early afternoon Thursday, Cubit made certain promises that seemed to be meant to as criticisms of the incumbent Sheriff.
“Oklahomans deserve a Sheriff who will lead us into the future. One who will protect all Oklahomans, who understands our criminal justice system – both its shortcomings and strengths, and will keep us safe from harm. I know I am the leader to do this job,” said Cubit.
“I know what our community needs. They need a Sheriff who has real professional experience, who will be strong, trustworthy, and knowledgeable; but most importantly – one who will keep all of our citizens safe and protect our kids,” wrote Cubit.
“The Sheriff Department will reflect not only our community’s values but also our needs,” Cubit continued. “My values as a candidate are respect, innovation and transparency. The community wants to know our values, the department needs to do a better job of communicating our values with those we serve.”
Sheriff Johnson sent comments to Free Press on our request Thursday evening through campaign staff.
“Oklahoma County voters made their voice heard four years ago,” said Sheriff Johnson. “They weren’t interested in ideological points, they were focused on keeping our families and community safe.”
“Together, we’ve restored trust in the sheriff’s office,” Johnson continued. “We implemented new technology such as body cameras for every deputy and never lost sight of our mission — protecting our community. I’m grateful to the voters who elected me, allowing me to deliver on every campaign promise I made. I will keep working hard to earn their vote again by putting their priorities first.”
Free Press will continue to cover this important local race as it develops leading up to the general election in November.
Topics: Law Enforcement