Kevin West, a Republican state representative from South Oklahoma City, is running for Oklahoma labor commissioner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

West won the GOP primary runoff on Aug. 25, defeating John Pfeiffer with 58.3% of the vote, 195,684 to 140,116, according to News9. He has represented House District 54, covering North Moore and South Oklahoma City, since 2017, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

On his campaign website, West said workers deserve to keep what they earn and that government should not redistribute it. He said the answer is "free market jobs that put Oklahoma and America first."

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Hometown: Born in Oklahoma City, raised in South Oklahoma City
  • Education: High school diploma, Douglass High School; bachelor's degree in construction and business, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
  • Family: West said he has been married to his high school sweetheart, Goldie, for almost 40 years. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. West said they are active members of Regency Park Baptist Church in Moore and both volunteer with the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Team.

Experience and public service

West entered politics in 2017. He chaired the Oversight Committee during the 60th Legislature and served as assistant majority floor leader during the 59th Legislature, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Before the legislature, West worked in the construction industry. He has been a manager at Precision Casework since 2007, according to BallotReady. He previously owned Sooner Fixtures from 1996 to 2004 and worked as a project manager at Wood Systems from 2004 to 2007.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from West's campaign website and his responses on BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Workforce and economy: West said he would streamline licensing so qualified workers can start faster and create incentives for businesses to offer apprenticeships. He said he wants to ensure Oklahoma shops are not squeezed out by out-of-state giants or out-of-country scammers. He said he wants to launch a bipartisan task force on artificial intelligence and automation to protect Oklahoma workers while preparing them for a changing economy.

Workplace safety: West said he would modernize workplace safety and adopt a "teach before you fine" approach, helping employers with training and tools before penalties. He said he would provide training and placement programs for people seeking a second chance.

Education and trades: West said he would expand CareerTech partnerships and start trade education earlier in high school. He also said he would create skilled trade pathways for veterans.

Taxes and budget: West said he supports a balanced budget with less spending and more input from individual districts. He said he would guarantee fair bidding on public contracts and simplify outdated rules and regulations. West said he supports legislation that would lower or even eliminate the state income tax.

Energy: West said Oklahoma can be a leader in energy production while protecting the environment. He said he supports legislation promoting responsible oil and gas exploration.

Endorsements

West has been endorsed by Make Oklahoma Healthy Again, according to BallotReady.

Candidate positions were drawn from West's campaign website and his responses submitted through BallotReady. The Oklahoma City Ledger did not interview the candidate for this profile.