Your Vote Counts: Oklahomans celebrate Trump’s inauguration while discussing the future of politics at gala

Oklahomans in Washington, D.C., braved the cold for President Trump’s inauguration and the Oklahoma Gala, where state leaders discussed unity, political transparency, and the 2026 governor’s race.

Griffin Media's Scott Mitchell sat down with Jason Dunnington and Jon Echols to discuss the upcoming inauguration and future of politics. during the segment.

Oklahomans Gather in D.C. for Trump’s Inauguration

Despite freezing temperatures, Oklahomans flocked to Washington, D.C., to witness the inauguration of President Donald Trump. The Oklahoma Gala at the International Spy Museum brought together state leaders and citizens to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power.

“Look, it’s an exciting time to be in D.C.,” said Jason Dunnington. “I know that the country is really divided right now because half of the people voted for someone else. But I think the most important thing is this is America, and we’re here to celebrate that. It’s a transfer of power here in D.C.”

State Representative Jon Echols echoed the excitement, highlighting the significance of Trump’s swift transition into office.

“Trump has started fast. The inauguration and the presidency will start, but he’s really hit the ground running, and you can see it here,” Echols said.

Echols also noted the challenges of the weather: “I will tell you, ladies and gentlemen, it is cold, really cold.”

Transparency and AI at the Forefront in Oklahoma

Back home, discussions around transparency and the use of artificial intelligence in politics are taking center stage in the Oklahoma legislature.

Lawmakers have introduced bills requiring candidates to disclose AI-generated content in their campaigns, aiming to protect voters from misinformation.

“Well, Haley (Weger) with News 9 had a great story last week about some transparency bills that were filed in the Oklahoma legislature,” Echols said. “One of them, Senator Siegfried, filed a bill that if you’re using AI in your political campaigns, you have to disclose it. I think that’s great. I think the future, we have to embrace AI technology. It’s going to continue to be used. But we definitely need citizens to know what is real and what is not real. And in the political arena, especially.”

Dunnington expressed bipartisan support for these measures.

“Look, I think my friend said it best. If you watch social media this week at all, what you saw was a lot of reality TV,” he said. “I hate to say it, but that’s kind of where we’re at in politics these days. I mean, you’ve got two big silos, and depending on which team you’re on, the red team or the blue team, you just speak into that silo and wait for the echo to return. Disclosure should be the very least thing that we have in this.”

2026 Gubernatorial Race Begins Early

While the inauguration dominated the spotlight, the 2026 Oklahoma governor’s race is already underway. Attorney General Gentner Drummond has announced his candidacy, with several other Republicans expected to join.

“Yeah, General Drummond jumped out early. Huge name ID,” Echols said. “But my friend and colleague talked about Speaker McCaul, Chip Keating, Mike Mazey out of Tulsa has talked. I think you’ll have several people in the race. And keep watching. Dominoes are about to keep falling on other statewide races.”

Dunnington noted the internal divisions within the Republican Party.

“Like it or not, there’s about six different factions of the Republican Party in Oklahoma right now, and they’re all gonna run somebody that speaks for them,” he said.

Looking Ahead

As Oklahomans celebrated in D.C., conversations about unity, transparency, and the future of state politics underscored the challenges and opportunities ahead.