An Oklahoma County District Court judge denied an emergency injunction sought by a U.S. Senate candidate to force an Oklahoma media company to allow his participation in a televised debate Thursday.

Republican candidate Dr. Randy Grellner of Cushing, a Kingfisher High School graduate and the son of Judy Grellner and the late Jim Grellner, filed a lawsuit last week against Griffin Communications, an Oklahoma City-based media company which owns and operates KWTV (Channel 9) in Oklahoma City and KOTV (Channel 6) in Tulsa, along with a number of state radio stations.

Grellner is among 13 candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the June 28 primary election for the unexpired term of U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, who is set to retire in January.

Thursday’s televised debate, set to air on both the Oklahoma City and Tulsa channels, is the only statewide forum planned.

Griffin originally announced that it would include the top six candidates in the debate, based on polling numbers, and then later reduced the number to include only the top five.

A SoonerPoll reported by News 9 and News 6 on May 18 showed Mark-Wayne Mullin in the lead with 38.3%, followed by T.W. Shannon with 16.4%, Nathan Dahm with 5.6%, Scott Pruitt with 3.3%, Luke Holland with 2.8%.

Grellner and Adam Holley were tied for sixth place at .9% each, according to the news report. In a press release, the

In a press release, the Grellner campaign alleges at the time of the poll he had raised nearly $1.2 million in contributions “far and above the other candidate coming in at number six.”

Grellner’s attorneys argued Monday that he is now polling as high as third place in the field, after an advertising campaign that increased his statewide name recognition.

“We are disappointed with the judge’s decision to deny voters the opportunity to hear our message and to hear from a candidate that can represent rural Oklahoma,” Grellner said in a press release Tuesday. “In pursuing this action,

“In pursuing this action, we fought for the right for Oklahomans to be well informed on the candidates and the issues. While we don’t agree with the judge’s decision, we respect America’s judicial system and will move forward as best we can.”

“Despite being in third place, Channel 9 has instead decided to have candidates who have far less support, far less funds in their campaign accounts, and far less interaction and impressions on their social media accounts.”

According to the court testimony of a Channel 9 representative, it would have been too expensive to commission an additional poll or to keep the original plan and have six candidates on the debate stage and refused to add a spot for Grellner even though he offered to pay the additional cost.