Oklahoma State Superintendent wants impeachment hearings to begin on Monday

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters says the House Speaker Charles McCall and Representative Mark McBride want to impeach him and he demands the proceedings begin on Monday.

Oklahoma House Republican sources have told News 4 they’re gaining confidence they can get the needed amount of 51 Republicans to sign a letter calling for a special investigation of State Superintendent Ryan Walters, in part, because their constituents are calling on them to do so.

Charles McCall said he would not form an investigation until there were 51 members of his caucus signed the letter.

“I will not continue to stand here and listen to Speaker McCall and Mark McBride lie about my office and lie about the work we are doing. So what we’ve seen here is a clear political attack, and why are we getting that political attack? Because Charles McCall is more concerned about running for governor in 2026 than taking care of Oklahomans. This is a clear attack on who he views as his biggest political opponent in that governor’s race in 2026. My focus is kids in the state of Oklahoma. I’m not worried about a future election; I’m worried about ensuring every kid has the best education possible,” said Walters.

Less than a week ago, “impeachment” was a word you would have never heard out of an Oklahoma Republican’s mouth in reference to Ryan Walters. But that changed after State Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore) spoke to News 4 last Thursday .

“I hate to use the word impeachment,” McBride (R-Moore) told News 4 last Thursday. “But I think we’re getting to that point.”

“And then the next thing they need to do, we don’t need to wait. We do not need to wait on a LOFT committee. We do not need to wait on an investigation. It is time to start the proceedings immediately. The Speaker wants to impeach me for political advantage in the 2026 governor’s race. So then let’s start the impeachment proceedings. I am calling on Speaker McCall and Mark McBride to begin their impeachment proceedings Monday,” said Walters.

This week State Representative Kevin Wallace (R-Wellston) announced the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency will be investigating spending concerns at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Wallace, who also serves as LOFT chair, says the investigation “isn’t about Superintendent Walters; this is about the transparency of a State Agency and getting answers for our constituents.”

“In my capacity as Chairman, I intend to have LOFT investigate funding disbursement concerns raised by both citizens and legislators in regard to funds earmarked to OSDE for specific purposes. This isn’t about Superintendent Walters; this is about the transparency of a State Agency and getting answers for our constituents. When the Legislature approves funding for a specific purpose, it is incumbent on the agency to which those funds are allocated to spend them properly and in a timely manner. If there are issues with disbursements being made, that information should be communicated to the Legislature well before schools are incombered. I look forward to using the processes and procedures available within LOFT to address the concerns that have been raised with OSDE funding, and will conduct a thorough, transparent investigation to provide answers to my fellow legislators and the citizens of Oklahoma.”

Representative Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston

Walters says there is no misappropriation of funds and that is a “false narrative.”

Also this week, Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against Walters.

According to the lawsuit, Miller, who was hired as the Bixby Superintendent in 2018, asked Walters in July when Oklahoma school districts could expect to see estimates for how much they would receive in Title I funding.

The lawsuit says that prior to Walters taking office, estimates would be sent by the Oklahoma State Department of Education by early May, followed by a more exact allocation notice in July. Bixby Public Schools reportedly has still not been provided allocation figures.

Walters has also been accused of not complying with Open Records requests.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sent State Superintendent Ryan Walters a very strongly-worded letter last month demanding Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) comply with the Open Records Act, after his office received dozens of complaints. Walters never responded. OSDE attempts to deprive schools of rollover funds for safety, security enhancements despite previously promising them

In the July 16 letter from Drummond to Walters, obtained by News 4, Drummond told Walters his office had received an “alarming number of complaints” about issues with open records requests members of the public and media had made with OSDE.

Drummond listed 42 complaints his office had received from different media outlets for dating back to January of last year they say have gone “unanswered” by OSDE.

Drummond wrote his office had tried numerous times to work with Walters and OSDE on the complaints, but that OSDE “inconceivably” ignored his office’s communications.

Drummond wrote that was “unacceptable.”

He gave Walters a deadline of last Friday, Aug. 9, to either comply with the law and fulfill unanswered requests, or meet with Drummond at his office.

Drummond’s office told News 4 they still have not received a response from Walters or OSDE, and Walters never ended up meeting with Drummond by the deadline.

Speaker Charles McCall sent this statement to KFOR:

“As Speaker of the House, I remain steadfast in my position: I will not overturn the will of the people, regardless of any demands made.

While Superintendent Walters may desire a path toward his own impeachment, my focus is firmly on the LOFT investigation into the Oklahoma State Department of Education. This investigation is about ensuring taxpayer dollars are properly allocated, not targeting individuals. It is essential we understand why school districts are not receiving their required funding.

My advice to Superintendent Walters is to prioritize getting resources to Oklahoma schools and improving our state’s education rankings, rather than engaging in political theatrics.”

KFOR has reached out to Rep. Mark McBride’s office for comment, but have not heard back at this time.

This is a developing story

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