In 2022, only two Republican candidates filed for the open seat in Oklahoma's 12th senate district: Todd Gollihare and Rob Ford. Incumbent SenatorJames Leewright decided to retire before being term limited. During the campaign, Gollihare supported school voucher programs saying "“Competition for state dollars is always good, and it will help the public schools to up their game." Gollihare defeated Rob Ford in the June Republican primary, winning the senate seat since no other party's candidate filed. He was sworn in on November 16, 2022.