Kevin West, John Pfeiffer set for labor commissioner debate in McAlester

Ahead of Oklahoma’s runoff election, Republican commissioner of labor candidates Kevin West and John Pfeiffer have agreed to a public debate in McAlester at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19. The debate, titled “Labor of Love,” is being held in partnership between NonDoc and Griffin Communications at Spaceship Earth Coffee, 345 E. Choctaw Ave. in McAlester. With limited seating, those wishing to attend in person must RSVP using this Google form. The debate will be live streamed through News on 6 and News 9 platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and NonDoc’s Facebook page. The debate will be co-moderated by Tres Savage of NonDoc and Jonathan Cooper of News on 6, with all questions written and asked by professional journalists. The Frontier is also a media partner for the debate and will lead fact-checking efforts. ‘The welfare of the wager earner’ Along with only Georgia, North Carolina and Oregon, Oklahoma elects a commissioner of labor every four years. In other states, similar positions are appointed. The labor commissioner’s primary duty is to lead the Oklahoma Department of Labor, which boasts a mission “to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage-earner.” The Department of Labor oversees worker safety regulations and administers permits for regulated amenities, such as elevators, boilers and amusement park rides. West and Pfeiffer have served together in the Oklahoma House since 2016, and they finished atop a four-way Republican primary for the statewide position in June. West, who ran for labor commissioner instead of a final term representing House District 54 in Moore, led with 41.8 percent support (153,384 votes). Pfeiffier, a Logan County rancher who has reached his legislative term limit in House District 38, received 35.3 percent support (129,482 votes). The winner of the Republican runoff election Aug. 25 will advance to face Democrat Kevin Dawson and Libertarian Mike Hall in the November general election. Sponsors of NonDoc’s 2026 debate series include Hilliary Communications, AARP Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center, the Oklahoma Association of REALTORS, McSpadden, Milner & Rott, the State Chamber of Oklahoma, the Scholars Strategy Network, Civitas Strategies, Cornerstone Government Affairs and the ACLU of Oklahoma. Other charitable sponsorships for the debate series are available.