Oklahoma Youth Governor Program Elects 2026 Student Leaders

Oklahoma City – Two youth leadership initiatives backed by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) have named their student leaders for 2026, continuing efforts to foster civic engagement among the state’s youngest citizens.

The Oklahoma Kid Governor® programme, operated in partnership with the Connecticut Democracy Center’s national initiative, allows 5th-grade students to experience the democratic process firsthand. Now in its latest cycle, the programme attracted participation from 1,187 pupils across Oklahoma, culminating in the election of the 2026 Kid Governor® and her cabinet.

Kid Governor® Election Results

This year’s election saw Katelyn Talley, a 5th grader from Valliant in southeastern Oklahoma, chosen as Kid Governor® 2026 on a platform dedicated to preventing animal abuse. Alongside her, Sophia Chavarria Rivera of Bethany was elected Kid Lieutenant Governor, advocating for the prevention of bullying, while Daphne Tanequodle from Lawton became Kid Secretary of State, focusing on addressing homelessness.

The Kid Governor® election mirrors the adult democratic process, beginning with local classroom contests where candidates select campaign issues and present their ideas to classmates. Winners advance to the statewide race, recording two-minute campaign videos for distribution to participating schools. Pupils then cast ballots resembling official Oklahoma election forms, with the vote timed to coincide with the national Election Day in November.

Statewide Voting and Governor Panel

A distinguished panel — comprising former Oklahoma governors David Walters, Frank Keating, Brad Henry, and Mary Fallin, alongside OICA board members — reviewed the submissions to narrow the field to finalists. Their campaign videos were shared across 37 classrooms, allowing students statewide to vote in a simulation of a general election.

Once elected, the Kid Governor® and her cabinet will serve a one-year term, working with OICA to promote leadership, advocacy, and student engagement on youth-related issues. The cabinet members also deliver presentations to civic organisations, raising awareness of their chosen causes. To assist families, OICA reimburses travel costs for official appearances.

Educational Toolkit and Funding Support

To support educators, OICA provides custom-designed teaching toolkits aligned with Oklahoma’s curriculum. These resources guide teachers through lessons on government, elections, and civic responsibility. The programme emphasises education about the democratic process rather than political persuasion, allowing students to choose their campaign issues independently. Funding is underwritten through donations and fundraisers, often involving Oklahoma’s former governors.

Junior Governor Programme Expands Civic Education

Alongside the Kid Governor® initiative, OICA also co-sponsors the Junior Governor programme with Oklahoma 4-H, aimed at 4th to 6th graders. This year’s event brought together more than 40 4-H students at a conference in Stillwater on 1 November. After learning about state government, participants elected their own Junior Governor and cabinet.

The newly elected Junior Governor is Riley Braden from Brisco, Creek County, a homeschooled student who campaigned to protect and promote the sanctity of life. Whitlee Moser, from Perkins Tryon Intermediate School, was chosen as Junior Lieutenant Governor on a platform of education, while Riley Rudder, attending Rattan Elementary in Pushmataha County, became Junior Secretary of State, advocating turtle conservation.

The Junior Cabinet also includes Lizzie Marlin from Bernita Hughes Elementary in Adair, whose campaign focused on smoking prevention and education, and Victoria Justice, a homeschooled student from Depew in Creek County, who pledged to prevent debt collectors from making spam calls.

Inauguration and Future Leadership

Both sets of student leaders will be formally inaugurated at the Oklahoma State Capitol on 2 February 2026, coinciding with the opening day of the Oklahoma Legislature’s session.

OICA’s Chief Executive, Joe Dorman, praised the impact of the youth programmes, saying:

“The Kid Governor® program and the Junior Governor inspire students to be involved in the process and hopefully become lifelong agents of change for the better, maybe even running for Governor of Oklahoma someday. If young people are given an opportunity to learn these lessons at an early age, they will grow into the leaders that will shape our tomorrow.”

Outgoing Leaders and Ongoing Support

The outgoing 2025 cabinet members include Kid Governor® Emma Stephens of Ardmore, Kid Lieutenant Governor Shawn Ferrell of Orlando, Kid Secretary of State Lawson Ream of Alva, and cabinet members Clayton Rohla (Roff), Ryan Young (Chickasha), Koda White (Vici), Alburto Harmon (Perry), and Harper Witt (Antlers).

OICA maintains an annual budget to fund both programmes and provide reimbursements for families supporting their children’s participation. The organisation continues to seek donations to sustain its civic education work.