State Rep. Brad Boles, a Marlow Republican who chairs the Oklahoma House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee, is running for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in the Nov. 3 general election.
Boles won the Republican primary on Tuesday, June 16, with about 55% of the vote, defeating Justin Hornback, according to Oklahoma Voice. His general election opponent is Democrat Rhonda Eastman of Spiro, who won her primary with nearly 70% of the vote. The seat is open because Commissioner Todd Hiett is term-limited.
The commission regulates utility rates, oil and gas operations and telecommunications statewide. Boles said the agency touches roughly two-thirds of Oklahoma's economy. He said the state faces a pivotal moment with electrical demand projected to double over the next 10 to 15 years, and he wants a commissioner with energy sector experience and a record of protecting ratepayers.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Oklahoma Corporation Commission
- Election date: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026
- Hometown: Marlow, Oklahoma
- Education: Dual MBA in finance and business management, according to his Oklahoma House profile
- Campaign website: bolesforok.com
Experience and public service
Boles has represented Grady and Stephens counties in the Oklahoma House since winning a special election in March 2018, according to NonDoc.
Before entering the Legislature, Boles served as mayor of Marlow and on the Marlow Public School Board of Education. He has also served as president of the Marlow Chamber of Commerce.
Boles' campaign website states he grew his family's metal fabrication business, Wilco Machine and Fab, from 100 employees to nearly 500 before selling it. His Oklahoma House profile says the company was sold to a publicly traded company. His campaign site also says Inc. Magazine recognized Wilco as one of the fastest-growing manufacturing companies in America and that the buyer was a Fortune 500 company.
Boles' campaign website says he co-founded Philtek Services, a staffing company that employs more than 100 people across eight states. In 2023, the company's former president, Darren Alaniz, was charged with six counts of embezzlement from Philtek, according to NonDoc. Boles called it an "unfortunate event" involving a "life-long friend and trusted employee." As of NonDoc's June 2026 reporting, the case was set for trial in July.
On the issues
The following responses are drawn from Boles' campaign platform, legislative record and public statements.
Utility rates and data centers: Boles authored House Bill 2992, the Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, which passed both chambers unanimously and was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday, May 11, according to an Oklahoma House news release. The law defines "large load customers" as new facilities adding 75 megawatts or more of demand and requires those customers to cover infrastructure costs rather than passing them to residential, commercial or traditional industrial ratepayers. It also requires large-load developers to notify adjoining landowners, county commissioners and the Corporation Commission within 60 days of acquiring land. Sen. Grant Green, R-Wellston, carried the bill in the Senate.
"Oklahoma families and small businesses should not be expected to finance major system upgrades required for high-demand users," Boles said in the House news release. "Those costs should rest with the companies driving the need."
Grid reliability and Winter Storm Uri: Boles said Oklahoma's grid is more reliable now than during the 2021 winter storm because the Southwest Power Pool, the regional grid organization covering parts of Oklahoma and 13 other states, has raised planning reserve margins. SPP's published planning criteria set the summer 2026 margin at 16% and the winter 2026-27 margin at 36%. Boles said those changes, had they been in place in 2021, would have prevented the crisis. SPP also reduced reserve credit ratings for intermittent power sources such as wind and solar, he said.
Abandoned wells and water contamination: Boles said the Oklahoma Legislature sets the statutes the Corporation Commission enforces on abandoned wells and wastewater injection. He said he would ensure proper enforcement of current laws and work with legislators on improvements if needed, citing relationships he has built over eight years in the House.
Energy policy: In 2025, Boles served as principal House author on Senate Bill 480, the "behind the meter" legislation carried in the Senate by Sen. Grant Green. The law, signed by Gov. Stitt on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, allows large-load industrial companies to build their own electricity generation facilities. Boles' campaign website claims the law has generated billions in new energy investments across Oklahoma.
Economy and regulation: Boles said his private-sector experience informs his approach to regulation. He has said that if more legislators understood what it takes to run a business, they would better understand how to create conditions for economic growth.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
