Sapulpa Ward 1 Election Heads to Runoff

Incumbent Nicolas and challenger Harris to face off after razor-thin margin in initial vote

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The race for Sapulpa's Ward 1 city council seat remains undecided after the initial vote, with incumbent Elizabeth Nicolas and challenger Mike Harris separated by just three votes. The two will now advance to a runoff election to determine the winner.

Why it matters

This close election highlights the importance of every vote in local races, where a handful of ballots can determine the outcome. The Ward 1 runoff will be a key test of the candidates' support in the community and could shift the balance of power on the city council.

The details

In the initial vote, Nicolas received 1,502 votes while Harris garnered 1,499 votes, a margin of just 0.1%. Given the narrow difference, election officials will now schedule a runoff election between the two candidates to determine the winner. Both Nicolas and Harris have been campaigning hard to sway undecided voters ahead of the next round of voting.

  • The initial election was held on February 11, 2026.
  • The runoff election between Nicolas and Harris will take place in the coming weeks, with an exact date to be announced.

The players

Elizabeth Nicolas

The incumbent city council member for Sapulpa's Ward 1, seeking re-election.

Mike Harris

The challenger seeking to unseat Nicolas and win the Ward 1 city council seat.

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What they’re saying

“This race is a testament to the power of every single vote. We're going to work hard to get our message out and earn the support of Sapulpa residents in the runoff.”

— Elizabeth Nicolas, Incumbent City Council Member (Sapulpa Daily Herald)

“I'm proud of how close we came in the initial vote, and I'm confident that with a strong turnout, we can pull this out in the runoff. Sapulpa deserves new leadership in Ward 1.”

— Mike Harris, City Council Challenger (Sapulpa Daily Herald)

What’s next

Election officials will announce the date for the runoff election between Nicolas and Harris in the coming days. The winner will serve a four-year term on the Sapulpa City Council.

The takeaway

This nail-biter of an election underscores how every vote matters in local races, where a handful of ballots can make all the difference. The Ward 1 runoff will be a closely watched contest that could shift the balance of power on the Sapulpa City Council.