Oklahoma › Cleveland County › Oklahoma House District 36
2 candidates are tracked for Oklahoma House District 36, headed to a November 3, 2026 runoff: John George and Leslie Hellebuyck. Candidate information follows official Cleveland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
John George (Republican), Leslie Hellebuyck (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. John George won the June 16 Republican primary with 57.08 percent over Jenni White (35.54 percent), Joe Sarge Nelson (7.39 percent). Oklahoma nominates by June primary with an August runoff when no candidate reaches a majority; unopposed nominees still print, and independents qualify by filing. The field is the State Election Board's 2026 candidate list with the June 16 and August 25 official results and the Board's withdrawals list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
John George is a career law enforcement officer who worked with the Oklahoma City Police Department from 1991 to 2022 and served as a long-time Fraternal Order of Police president, per his House biography. He was elected to District 36 in 2022 and chairs the Wildlife committee. George served five years in the Oklahoma National Guard and holds a criminal justice degree from East Central University. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Leslie Hellebuyck is a retired automotive manufacturing leader who later owned a small business in Ohio after earning a geology degree, per her campaign site. After moving to Oklahoma in 2022, she worked a session-only position in the Oklahoma House's Bill Processing Department. Hellebuyck, a Newalla resident, is running for the District 36 seat on healthcare access, public education and election policy.
2026 priorities (per the campaign site)
- Expanding mental health services and making healthcare more affordable
- Raising teacher pay and repealing school voucher programs
- Supporting open primary elections and expanded mail-in voting
Source: candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-07.
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