| Flag Image: | File:Flag of Tulsa, Oklahoma (2018).svg |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2020 Tulsa mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2020 |
| Election Date: | August 27, 2024 (first round) November 5, 2024 (runoff) |
| Next Election: | 2028 Tulsa mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 2028 |
| 1Blank: | First round |
| 2Blank: | Runoff |
| Image1: | File:Nichols, Monroe (cropped).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Monroe Nichols |
| Color1: | c0c0c0 |
| 1Data1: | 18,729 33.10% |
| 2Data1: | 76,300 55.62% |
| Candidate2: | Karen Keith |
| Color2: | c0c0c0 |
| 1Data2: | 18,457 32.62% |
| 2Data2: | 60,873 44.38% |
| Image3: | File:Brent VanNorman (2024) (alt crop).jpg |
| Candidate3: | Brent VanNorman |
| Color3: | c0c0c0 |
| 1Data3: | 18,019 31.84% |
| 2Data3: | Eliminated |
| Mayor | |
| Before Election: | G. T. Bynum |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (US) |
| After Election: | Monroe Nichols |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (US) |
The 2024 Tulsa mayoral election was held on August 27, 2024, and November 5, 2024, to elect the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Monroe Nichols won the runoff election, becoming the first Black Mayor of Tulsa.
Since no candidate received over 50% of the vote in the August election, Tulsa County commissioner Karen Keith and Nichols advanced to a runoff scheduled for November 5, 2024. Two-term incumbent mayor G. T. Bynum declined to run for a third term.
With Mayor G. T. Bynum not seeking a third term as Mayor of Tulsa, speculation on who would campaign in 2024 began in a January 2023 Tulsa World article that included former state representative Carol Bush, Tulsa County commissioner Karen Keith, state senator David Rader, state representative Monroe Nichols, city councilors Phil Lakin and Jayme Fowler, and former attorney general John M. O'Connor as potential candidates. By July, O'Connor, Bush and Lakin had all ruled out campaigns.
On July 13, Nichols became the first candidate to launch a mayoral campaign with Keith following suit on August 13.[1] [2] Fowler entered the race on September 5, but later dropped out in May 2024.[3] [4] Businessman Casey Bradford entered the race in April 2024.[5] Businessman and attorney Brent VanNorman entered the race shortly before filing in June.[6] Kaleb Hoosier, John Jolley, and perennial candidate Paul Tay also filed to run for the office.[7] [8]
Keith faced criticism during the campaign, including accusations related to her handling of a juvenile detention center scandal.[9] Additionally, controversies arose over her campaign's use of unauthorized photography and edited images in promotional materials, which drew public scrutiny. [10]
On August 27, Nichols and Keith advanced to a November 5 runoff election after placing in the top two during the August 27 election.[11] VanNorman announced his intention to file for a recount two days later.[12] The recount confirmed the results of the primary election.[13]
In September, Keith’s access to the Democratic VAN (Voter Activation Network) database was revoked. The Oklahoma Democratic Party’s Central Committee made this decision after a 90-minute meeting, reversing an earlier allowance for Keith's Democratic field representative to use the system. Concerns were raised about the risk of Republican campaign workers on her team accessing sensitive data. Keith downplayed the impact, stating her campaign would incur additional costs and effort to gather the necessary voter information through alternative means.[14]
Nichols won the runoff election, becoming the first Black mayor of Tulsa and the first Democratic mayor elected since 2006.[15]