← Back to The Stillwegian Election Desk
DECIDED · JUNE 16, 2026 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Rhonda Markum (R) · Incumbent — Won
The closest race on the June 16 ballot, decided by 223 votes. No Democrat or independent filed, so the primary decided the seat.
| Candidate | Share | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Rhonda Markum (R, incumbent) | 52.96% | 1,979 |
| Clayton Estus (R) | 47.04% | 1,758 |
Results certified by the Payne County Election Board.
About the office
Oklahoma county commissioners serve as principal administrators and business managers of the county, with responsibilities that extend well beyond road and bridge maintenance — including supervising county finances, setting county policy, auditing other county officers' accounts, and managing personnel. Under Oklahoma law, commissioners hold exclusive jurisdiction over county highway and bridge construction, maintenance, and repair within their districts.
About the district
District 3 covers the western portion of Payne County. The district maintains approximately 370 miles of gravel roads, 140 miles of paved roads, and more than 120 bridges.
The candidates
Rhonda Markum, 63, Stillwater
Republican — Incumbent · Won the June 16 primary
Markum was elected in 2022 after eight years as the District 3 administrative assistant under two commissioners. Before filing for the seat, she earned the Road Scholars certification, a state-level course in road construction management and documentation.
Read her full profile and questionnaire responses →
Clayton Estus, 32, Mulhall
Republican — Did not advance
Estus describes himself as a lifelong Payne County resident with more than 14 years in heavy civil construction. He served as District 3 road foreman and first deputy commissioner under Markum before resigning in March 2026 to file for the seat.
Read his full profile and questionnaire responses →
Coverage of this race
Markum faces her former road foreman in D3 commissioner race
Rhonda Markum and Clayton Estus agree on most policy questions but divide on whether day-to-day maintenance has kept pace
Chris Peters
See all coverage of Payne County Commissioner District 3 →
This race was decided in the June 16 primary. Reader endorsement letters for District 3 are closed. Candidate biographies and questionnaire responses remain available on each candidate's profile.
Candidate information compiled from campaign websites, campaign Facebook pages, official records, and The Stillwegian's 2026 candidate filing guide. The Stillwegian does not endorse candidates.
Candidates: If you find an error in your biographical information, contact us at 405-314-6629 or electiondesk@thestillwegian.news.
Last updated: 8/24/2026