Erica Watkins

Erica Watkins (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

Watkins also ran for election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives to represent District 68. She will not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 3, 2026.

Watkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Erica Watkins was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2007 to 2017. Watkins earned a high school diploma from Sapulpa High School, a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University, and a graduate degree from the University of Oklahoma. Her career experience includes working as an activist. As of 2025, Watkins was affiliated with We're Oklahoma Education.^[1]

Elections

2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 1

Incumbent Kevin Hern, John T. Croisant, Erica Watkins, and Ryan Parschauer are running in the general election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 1 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Kevin Hern (R)
		John T. Croisant (D)
		Erica Watkins (D)
	Submit photo	Ryan Parschauer (Independent)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

Erica Watkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watkins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a mom, a veteran, and a lifelong Oklahoman who believes in community, fairness, and the idea that government should work for people, not the powerful. I believe in the value of service and speaking up when something isn’t right. I served 10 years in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, including a deployment to Afghanistan. My time in uniform taught me about discipline, teamwork, and what real leadership looks like. That is showing up for others even when it’s hard.

After coming home, I earned degrees in Sociology and Global Affairs; Global Economics and Development because I wanted to understand how systems shape people’s lives and how we can change them for the better.

I’ve owned a small business, and have worked in education advocacy, and community organizing, focusing on one goal, helping Oklahoma build better futures. I am a founding board member of We’re Oklahoma Education (wOKe) and we work to protect public schools from political interference and ensure every child can learn freely and safely. My husband, also a veteran, and I are raising our two kids in Tulsa, where we spend our free time fishing, at lacrosse games, hiking, and out and about in town; staying connected to our community.

At my core, I’m someone who believes that honesty, compassion, and courage still matter in politics. I’m running because Oklahoma deserves leaders who remember who they serve - the people - and who aren’t afraid to fight for a better future.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Transparency & Real Representation I believe representation means serving the people, not the powerful. Too many politicians answer to donors, lobbyists, and party leaders instead of the communities they represent. I’ll fight for transparent government and real local control, where decisions reflect the voices of working families, not political insiders. I serve everyone, not just those who agree with me. The culture wars dividing us are distractions designed to keep the wealthy in control while everyday Oklahomans pay the price.
Economic Dignity Our economy should work for people, not just corporations and billionaires. I’ll fight for policies that raise wages, strengthen unions, and support small businesses. Families deserve affordable childcare, paid family leave, and the ability to retire with security. I’ll push for student debt relief and job training to help young people and veterans build stable futures. Economic dignity means ensuring every Oklahoman can afford healthcare, housing, and the basic necessities of life, without working themselves to exhaustion to increase shareholder profit.
Strong Schools & Strong Communities Public education is the backbone of a healthy democracy and a strong economy. I’ll fight to fully fund public schools, raise teacher pay, and invest in classrooms instead of political agendas. I oppose vouchers and efforts to privatize or defund education. Our kids deserve safe schools, qualified teachers, and the freedom to learn without interference. But strong communities also require strong social services and safety nets. Access to healthcare, food security, housing, and mental health care are essential. The working class keeps this country running, and working class interests must be prioritized. When families are supported, children thrive, and our state grows stronger.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about policy and building systems that serve people, not power. That means defending public education, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring economic dignity through fair wages, affordable childcare, and support for small businesses and veterans.

I believe in transparent government, reproductive freedom, and protecting democracy from extremism and corruption. My focus is on policies that strengthen communities such as education, housing, food security, and healthcare. Because when people are cared for, democracy thrives.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, transparency, and courage are the most important qualities an elected official can have. Public office is not a prize or a platform for personal gain, it’s a responsibility to serve. Too many politicians treat holding office like a career ladder, financial investment, or a loyalty test - answering to donors, party bosses, and corporate lobbyists instead of the people who put them there. That’s not representation, that’s corruption with better branding.

I believe an elected official should lead with honesty, empathy, and humility. It means listening more than talking, admitting when you’re wrong, and telling the truth even when it’s unpopular. It means governing for everyone in your district, not just those who voted for you. It means refusing to let power or ideology come before people.

Transparency builds trust. When leaders hide behind closed doors, democracy erodes. The public deserves to know how decisions are made, where their money is going, and whose interests are being served. Accountability and openness are how we keep democracy alive. Courage means standing up to entrenched power, whether that’s capitalist greed, political extremism, or authoritarian movements trying to divide us. The wealthy and well-connected have spent decades turning working people against one another through fear, hate, and distraction. A real leader refuses to play that game.

An elected official’s duty is to protect the common good for all. To fight for dignity, fairness, and opportunity for every person. Leadership is not about control; it’s about stewardship. I believe government should reflect the people’s highest values, not their deepest fears. We deserve leaders who see public service as an act of solidarity, not a means to consolidate power.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility of anyone elected to Congress is to represent the people of their district, and all Americans. Not corporations, party elites, or special interests. That means listening to constituents, being transparent about decisions, and putting the public good above political gain. Representation isn’t about power; it’s about stewardship and accountability.

A member of Congress has a duty to write and support legislation that improves people’s lives: ensuring access to healthcare, fully funding public education, protecting workers’ rights, addressing the climate crisis, and strengthening social safety nets so that no family falls through the cracks. It also means defending democracy itself by protecting voting rights, rejecting authoritarianism, and ensuring government operates with honesty and integrity.

Elected officials should actively seek input from the people they serve, not hide behind talking points or donors. That includes holding open town halls, maintaining transparent communication, and showing up in communities to listen all the time, not just during campaign season, but every day in office.

For me, this role is not about partisan loyalty or personal ambition. It’s about service. The responsibility of a representative is to challenge corruption, stand up for those without a lobbyist, and fight for the dignity of working people. Congress should function as a check on concentrated power whether it is economic, political, or ideological and restore faith that government can be a force for good.

At its core, the job is simple but profound: tell the truth, serve the people, and never forget who sent you there. When government works for everyone, not just the wealthy few, democracy becomes stronger, and so does Oklahoma.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy to be one of truth, courage, and transformation. I don’t believe the system is broken; I believe it is working exactly as designed; to uphold white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism at the expense of human dignity. The goal isn’t to make that system a little kinder around the edges; it’s to build something better in its place.

If I leave anything behind, I want it to be the understanding that people have real, collective power when we stop believing that change can only come from the top. I want to help spark a cultural and political shift where progress is measured not by wealth or party wins, but by how well our most vulnerable are cared for.

Revolution, to me, is not a bad word. It is not chaos. It is honesty. It is naming what is unjust and refusing to accept it as normal. It is choosing community over control, compassion over profit, and equity over comfort. Liberation belongs to all of us, and it starts when we admit that the system was never built for everyone to thrive and decide to rebuild it together.

I want my legacy to remind people that politics can be deeper than performance, that it can still be service, solidarity, and courage in practice. I hope to leave behind stronger public schools, fairer laws, and a generation who demands transparency, equity, and humanity from their leaders.

And if I’m remembered for anything, I hope it’s that I told the truth about power, stood beside those who were hurting, and worked to build a world that future generations, even the ones I’ll never meet, that is inherited with hope and compassion.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was in Hurricane Iniki in 1992, when I was five years old living for a short time on Kauai. The storm devastated the island, we went months without power, and my family opened our home to neighbors who had lost theirs. We relied on the National Guard and federal relief for food and supplies. Even as a child, I understood how people come together in crisis, and how government can play a vital role in helping communities rebuild.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is Women, Race & Class by Angela Davis.

It fundamentally changed how I understand the world and my place in it. It is one of the few books that I can remember a definite distinction in the person I was before and after reading it. She helped me see past my own privilege and recognize how systems of power intersect to shape people’s lives. It pushed me to think more critically, act more intentionally, and commit myself to the work of justice with a deeper understanding of solidarity and shared struggle.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

While experience can help a representative understand how government works, too much time in politics can disconnect people from the realities of those they serve. We have plenty of career politicians who know the system but they’ve also learned how to protect it instead of fixing it. What matters most isn’t political experience, it’s integrity, curiosity, and the willingness to listen, learn, and fight for everyday people instead of the powerful.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The greatest challenge facing the United States over the next decade is whether we have the courage to confront the systems destroying both our democracy and our planet. We are watching corporate power and unrestrained capitalism hollow out our economy, our communities, and our environment. Working people are forced to struggle while billionaires, oil companies, and defense contractors make record profits and politicians look the other way.

This isn’t just about greed, it’s about survival. Climate change is already reshaping our world, and every delay is a choice to sacrifice future generations for short-term corporate gain. The same political and economic system that allows corporations to buy elections is the one blocking meaningful climate action. If we don’t change course, rising temperatures, collapsing infrastructure, and mass displacement will define the next decade.

We need leaders who are honest about what’s broken and brave enough to fix it. That means ending corporate control of government, taxing extreme wealth, and investing in renewable energy, sustainable jobs, and resilient communities. It means protecting workers as fiercely as we protect profits, and rejecting the false choice between economic growth and environmental survival.

Our nation’s future depends on putting people and the planet before profit. We can still build a livable world, one rooted in fairness, care, and collective responsibility but only if we tell the truth about the cost of doing nothing and have the courage to act.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Yes and no. Two years keeps representatives accountable to the people, which is important but it also forces them to campaign almost nonstop instead of focusing on governing. That short cycle benefits those with big donors and national visibility, not everyday candidates trying to do the work. Ideally, representatives should have enough time to learn the job, serve their communities effectively, and still answer directly to voters without being trapped in a constant campaign loop.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes, but not at the expense of the vulnerable. I believe in collaboration and honest negotiation, but too often “compromise” in politics means protecting the powerful while working families, marginalized communities, and the planet pay the price. I’m willing to work across the aisle when it helps people, lowers costs, or strengthens democracy, but I won’t trade away human rights or dignity for political theater. Real compromise should serve the public good, not power or profit.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

The House’s power to raise revenue is a responsibility to make sure our budget reflects real priorities, and not just corporate wish lists. I’d use that power to close tax loopholes for the wealthy, strengthen public schools, expand healthcare access, and invest in sustainable infrastructure. Every dollar we raise and spend should move us toward a fairer, safer, and more resilient country. Revenue decisions aren’t just financial, they are moral, and they define who we choose to protect and who we leave behind.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The House’s investigative power should be used to expose corruption, unchecked corporate influence, and the ways billionaires manipulate policy for profit. Oversight isn’t about partisan drama, it’s about defending democracy from those who believe wealth entitles them to control government. Congress should use its authority to follow the money, close loopholes, and hold powerful interests accountable. Investigations should serve the public interest, not political ambition, and restore trust that no one is above the law.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I’m proud of my time on a Female Engagement Team in the Army, one of the first groups of women to serve as combat assets, especially within the National Guard. It was an honor to help open doors for other women in uniform and prove what we’re capable of when given the chance.

I’m also proud of earning my degrees while raising my kids and building a life rooted in service. Balancing motherhood, education, and advocacy hasn’t been easy, but raising good humans while fighting for a better world is the accomplishment that means the most to me.

What role should the United States government have in the development or use of artificial intelligence?

AI isn’t going away, we can’t put it back in the box. The government’s role should be to ensure it’s developed and used ethically, with transparency, accountability, and protections for workers, artists, and the environment. AI should serve people, not replace them or exploit their labor. We need strong safeguards against misinformation, data abuse, and environmental harm, alongside public investment in education and job transition programs. Innovation should make society stronger and fairer, not more unequal or less human.

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Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Erica Watkins campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. House Oklahoma District 1	Candidacy Declared general	$2,451	$1,725
Grand total			$2,451	$1,725
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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Candidate

U.S. House Oklahoma District 1

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 13, 2025

[show]

Oklahoma's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

James Lankford (R)

Markwayne Mullin (R)

Representatives

District 1

Kevin Hern (R)

District 2

Josh Brecheen (R)

District 3

Frank Lucas (R)

District 4

Tom Cole (R)

District 5

Stephanie Bice (R)

Republican Party (7)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 13, 2025

[1]

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Erica Watkins

Contents

Biography

Elections

2026

General election

General election for U.S. House Oklahoma District 1

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

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