Kevin West seeks Oklahoma labor commissioner post

Kevin West, a Republican state representative from Oklahoma House District 54, is running for Oklahoma Labor Commissioner in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

West won the Republican primary runoff on Aug. 25, 2026, defeating John Pfeiffer with 58.3% of the vote, 195,684 to 140,116, according to News9.

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 on his campaign website that he has been married to his high school sweetheart, Goldie, for almost 40 years. They have two adult children and four grandchildren.
Community: West said he and his wife 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 has represented North Moore and South Oklahoma City as the state representative for House District 54 since 2017, according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He served as assistant majority floor leader during the 59th Legislature. He also chaired the Oversight Committee.

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

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 wants to 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 what he called "out-of-state giants or out-of-country scammers." West said he would launch a bipartisan task force on artificial intelligence and automation to protect workers while preparing them for a changing economy. On his campaign website, West said he favors "free market jobs that put Oklahoma and America first."

Workplace safety: West said he supports a "teach before you fine" approach, helping employers with training and tools before imposing penalties. He said he wants to modernize workplace safety to protect workers and help businesses succeed.

Trades and education: West said he would expand CareerTech partnerships and start trade education earlier in high school. He said he wants to create skilled trade pathways for veterans.

Second chances: West said he supports training and placement programs that give people seeking a second chance what he called "the dignity of work and a fresh start."

Taxes and regulation: West said he supports simplifying outdated rules and cutting red tape. He said he favors guaranteeing fair bidding on public contracts and opposes forced union dues.