Don McCorkell

Don L. McCorkell, Jr was an American politician and filmmaker who served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 72nd district between 1979 and 1996.
He ran unsuccessful Democratic primary campaigns in the 1996 United States Senate election in Oklahoma and Tulsa mayoral election.

Career

Politics

Don McCorkell represented the 72nd district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives between 1978 and 1996.
In 1996, McCorkell retired to run in the Democratic primary for one of Oklahoma's United States Senate seats. His campaign's top priorities were economic development and education.
In 2006, McCorkell lost the Tulsa mayoral Democratic primary to Kathy Taylor. He spent $1 million self financing his campaign. During the primary he accused Taylor of voter fraud in the 2000 election, however the district attorneys' office did not file charges.

Film

After the 2006 mayoral election, McCorkell travelled to Santa Barbara to visit and eventually moved to the area. There he began making environmental documentaries. His 2008 documentary, Shall We Gather at the River, was critically acclaimed throughout the western United States.

Later years

McCorkell's wife, Marilyn, died on February 3, 2023. He died on March 25, 2025 in Santa Barbara, California and was survived by his two sons and five grandchildren.