FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oklahoma Republican Party State Committee Affirms Chairwoman’s Authority to Endorse Republican Candidates
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — September 2, 2026 — The Oklahoma Republican Party State Committee has formally affirmed the authority of State Chairwoman Charity Linch to publicly support, advocate for, and endorse Republican candidates.
The resolution, duly adopted by the State Committee on August 22, 2026, affirms the Committee’s confidence in Chairwoman Linch and recognizes her authority as the elected executive officer of the Oklahoma Republican Party.
The resolution points to the Oklahoma Republican Party Rules, including Rule 4.4.6, which establishes the State Chairman as the Party’s executive officer and provides for general supervision over activities, functions, and campaigns within the state. It further notes that a review of the Party’s governing rules found no provision prohibiting the State Chairwoman from endorsing Republican candidates.
“The State Committee recognizes that the State Chairwoman possesses the authority to publicly support, advocate for, and endorse Republican candidates when, in her judgment, doing so is consistent with her responsibilities as the elected executive officer of the Oklahoma Republican Party,” the resolution states.
The resolution also distinguishes between supporting Republican candidates and supporting opponents of Republican candidates. Under Rule 4.3.4(5), Party members and officers are prohibited from publicly supporting or endorsing opponents of Republican Party candidates.
The State Committee further resolved that endorsements by the State Chairwoman are not prohibited by the Oklahoma Republican Party Rules and therefore do not constitute a violation of those Rules.
Importantly, the Committee affirmed that any future restriction on the authority of a State Chairwoman or State Chairman to endorse candidates should be established through the Party’s formal rule-amendment process—not through an informal interpretation or restriction outside the governing rules.
The resolution was adopted with a quorum present at the August 22 meeting of the Oklahoma Republican Party State Committee.