State Rep. Brad Boles, a Marlow Republican, is running for Oklahoma Corporation Commission in the Nov. 3 general election. The commission regulates utility rates for customers across Oklahoma, including the Tulsa metro area. Boles, who chairs the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee, said his private-sector experience and legislative record on energy policy prepared him for the role.
He faces Democrat Rhonda Eastman in November.
"Oklahoma is at an energy crossroads as the electrical demand forecast is projected to double over the next 10-15 years," Boles said in his candidate questionnaire, "so it's important we have someone with proven energy sector leadership experience and a track record of protecting ratepayers …"
Boles won the Republican primary in June. NonDoc reported that Boles faced Justin Hornback for the GOP nomination.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Oklahoma Corporation Commission
- Hometown: Marlow, Oklahoma
- Education: MBA in Finance, Dallas Baptist University (2009); Bachelor's in Business Administration and Management, Dallas Baptist University (2006); Associate's in Business Administration and Management, Eastern Oklahoma State College (2004)
- Family: Married to Michelle since 2006; two children, Kristin and Matthew
- Campaign website: bolesforok.com
Experience and public service
Boles has represented Grady and Stephens counties in the Oklahoma House since 2018, according to his legislative profile. He chairs the House Energy and Natural Resources Oversight Committee.
Before entering the Legislature, Boles served as Marlow's mayor for four years. He also sat on the Marlow Public School Board of Education for two years. He has served as president of the Marlow Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance board and a board director at the State Chamber of Oklahoma.
In the private sector, Boles became president of his family's metal fabrication business, Wilco Machine and Fab, at age 24. He grew the company from 100 employees to nearly 500 before it was sold to a Fortune 500 company in 2018, according to his legislative profile. He co-founded Philtek Services, which employs more than 100 people across eight states, according to his campaign.
On the issues
The following responses are drawn from Boles' candidate questionnaire and campaign materials. They reflect the candidate's own stated positions.
Utility rates and data centers
Boles said he authored House Bill 2992, the Data Center Ratepayer Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2026. The bill requires large data centers consuming 75 megawatts or more of power to pay for all their own costs, including power generation, transmission and grid connections. It bars utility companies from shifting those costs to residential ratepayers.
Grid reliability and Winter Storm Uri
Boles said Oklahoma's power grid is more reliable now than during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri crisis. He pointed to the Southwest Power Pool's increase in storage reserve requirements, rising from about 12% in 2021 to 32% starting in January 2026, and reduced reserve credit ratings for intermittent power sources such as wind and solar.
Abandoned wells and water contamination
Boles said he would enforce current state laws governing abandoned wells and wastewater injection. He said his relationships in the Legislature, built over eight years, would help him work with lawmakers on improvements if needed. "Oklahoma has proven that we can be an oil-producing state and at the same time have both clean air and water," he said in his questionnaire.
Energy policy
In 2025, Boles authored "Behind the Meter" legislation allowing large industrial companies to build their own electricity generation facilities on their property, according to NonDoc. Boles said the law has generated billions in new energy investments across Oklahoma.
Economy and regulation
Boles said the Corporation Commission touches roughly two-thirds of Oklahoma's economy through permitting and regulations. He said his experience running businesses with hundreds of employees gives him firsthand understanding of regulation's impact on employers.
The general election is Nov. 3. Voters can find more about Boles' positions at bolesforok.com.
