Republican Governor Candidate Pledges Crackdown on H-1B Visas

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jake Merrick said he would seek to restrict the use of H-1B and other foreign-worker visa programs in Oklahoma, arguing they should be used only when no qualified U.S. workers are available.

In a statement posted on X, Merrick, who served in the Oklahoma Senate representing the 22nd district from 2021 to 2022, said that, if elected, he would limit H-1B visas to cases where employers can demonstrate a lack of qualified American applicants, and would block state agencies and universities from using the programs to replace U.S. workers.

"We will also defend Oklahoma jobs," Merrick wrote. "H-1B and OPT visas may remain an option, but only when it is clearly demonstrated that no qualified Americans or Oklahomans are available."

H-1B visas, which allow U.S. employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations such as technology and healthcare, represent a relatively small part of Oklahoma's workforce. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data show that Oklahoma recorded about 858 H‑1B visa approvals in 2025, and more than 3,000 approvals have been issued to Oklahoma employers since 2021.

Newsweek reached out to Merrick via email for comment.

A crowded Republican primary field has emerged in the strongly conservative state, including Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former House Speaker Charles McCall, businessman Chip Keating, and others, as well as Merrick, a former state senator. Merrick is one of several Republicans seeking the party's nomination in a race expected to be dominated by the GOP primary, given the state's longstanding Republican tilt.

Democrats have not won a statewide race in Oklahoma since 2006.

A February 2026 Sooner Survey of 600 likely Republican voters found Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond leading the primary field with 36 percent, followed by former House Speaker Charles McCall at 14 percent, businessman Chip Keating and former state Senator Mike Mazzei at 13 percent each, while Merrick polled at 5 percent. Nineteen percent backed other candidates or were undecided.

The Trump administration said Thursday that applications for H‑1B visas declined this year following changes to the program's allocation system. USCIS said the number of "properly submitted" applications for the 2027 H‑1B cap fell to 211,600, down from 343,981 for the 2026 cycle, a decrease of about 38.5 percent.

While immigration policy is largely set at the federal level, state officials can influence hiring practices within public institutions and set conditions for state contracts.

Several Republican-led states have introduced measures to limit the use of H‑1B visa workers in public-sector roles. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott ordered a pause on new H‑1B petitions through May 31, 2027, while in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis directed the state's Board of Governors to phase out H‑1B hiring at public universities.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:32 AM.