2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

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2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Kevin Stitt
Republican



The 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican Governor Kevin Stitt is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.

Contents

Primary elections will be held on June 16, 2026.

Background

Oklahoma is a deeply red state. [a] Incumbent Governor Kevin Stitt won re-election by a 13.6% margin in 2022. [1] Democrats have not won an Oklahoma gubernatorial election (or any statewide race) since 2006.

Primary elections will be held on June 16, 2026. [2]

Republican primary

Campaign

In August 2023, KOSU noted that Attorney General Gentner Drummond had raised significantly more than other statewide elected officials in 2023, fueling rumors of a gubernatorial run. [3] The same month, The Black Wall Street Times reported State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters was preparing for a 2026 gubernatorial campaign. [4] U.S. Representative Kevin Hern was the first major contender to public acknowledge he was considering a campaign in August 2024, but ruled out a run that December after House Republicans won a narrow majority in the 2024 elections. [5] [6] In early January 2025, former state senator Mike Mazzei posted a gubernatorial campaign logo to Facebook. [7]

On January 13, 2025, Drummond announced his campaign for governor. He was the first major candidate to enter the race and the second overall after Leisa Mitchell Haynes. [8] On February 18, former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall officially announced his campaign. [2] Mazzei officially launched his campaign on April 3. [9] In May, former state senator Jake Merrick entered the race followed by businessman Kenneth Sturgell. [10] [11]

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Gentner Drummond
Labor unions
Mike Mazzei
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
State legislators
Jake Merrick
State legislators

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Gentner
Drummond		Chip
Keating		Mike
Mazzei		Jake
Merrick		Charles
McCall		Undecided
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R) [19] August 4–10, 2025400 (LV)± 4.3%48%4%2%4%10%33%
Victory Insights (R) [20] [A] February 23–25, 2025506 (LV)–37%3%1%–6%52%
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R) [21] February 10–15, 2025500 (RV)± 4.3%50%7%––7%37%
Hypothetical polling

with Ryan Walters

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Gentner
Drummond		Chip
Keating		Mike
Mazzei		Jake
Merrick		Charles
McCall		Matt
Pinnell		Ryan
Walters		Undecided
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R) [19] August 4–10, 2025500 (RV)± 4.3%43%4%2%3%8%–8%33%
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R) [22] May 5–9, 2025500 (RV)± 4.3%39%3%1%1%5%10%12%31%
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R) [21] February 10–15, 2025500 (RV)± 4.3%44%6%––5%–14%32%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [24] Solid RSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [25] Solid RAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [26] Safe RSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [27] Safe RSeptember 16, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ See the general election predictions section.
  2. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. ↑ This poll was sponsored by the Calvin Coolidge Project

References

  1. ↑ Leip, David. "2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Oklahoma". www.uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on December 6, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Carter, M. Scott (February 18, 2025). "Former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall announces bid for governor". The Oklahoman . Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  3. ↑ Nissley, Isabel (August 8, 2023). "Oklahoma Attorney General raises $225K, topping state officials' campaign contributions". KOSU . Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sources: Ryan Walters mulls bid for governor amid attacks on TPS". The Black Wall Street Times . August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (August 29, 2024). "Could Congressman Kevin Hern be Oklahoma's next governor?". Tulsa World . Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Solender, Andrew (December 9, 2024). "House GOP's tiny majority helps kill a bid for governor". Axios . Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Gorman, Reese; Luetkemeyer, Em (January 12, 2025). "Oklahoma Attorney General Prepares to Jump in Governor's Race". NOTUS. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Evans, Murray (January 13, 2025). "AG Gentner Drummond announces bid for Oklahoma governor in 2026 election". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Loveless, Tristan (April 4, 2025). "Mike Mazzei kicks off gubernatorial campaign with U.S. Rep. Brecheen's endorsement". NonDoc. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Ramos, Lionel (May 1, 2025). "Former lawmaker Jake Merrick joins race for Oklahoma Governor". KOSU . Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Anderson, Kayden (July 10, 2025). "Meet two new Republican candidates in the race for Oklahoma governor". The Oklahoman . Archived from the original on July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025. Former state Sen. Jake Merrick and small business owner Kenneth Sturgell are the most recent candidates to join the race to replace current Gov. Kevin Stitt
  12. ↑ Media, Griffin (March 31, 2025). "Oklahoma Governor race: Former State Sen. Mike Mazzei announces candidacy". KOTV-DT . Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  13. ↑ Greco, Jonathan (May 9, 2025). "Ryan Walters says he's considering running for Oklahoma governor". KOCO . Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ Canfield, Kevin (January 28, 2025). "Former Tulsa mayor talks about regrets, bloody primaries and more at Press Club luncheon". Tulsa World . Retrieved January 28, 2025. He is not running for governor. 'I like being married. I choose Susan Bynum over losing in a gubernatorial primary in Oklahoma'
  15. ↑ "'Not Running': US Sen. Lankford Dismisses Rumors Of Running For Oklahoma Governor". KWTV-DT . June 25, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  16. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (June 29, 2025). "Political notebook: Stitt objects to federal plan to bar AI regulation by states". Tulsa World . Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  17. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (April 6, 2025). "Political notebook: Republican lawmakers sign oil and gas industry letter". Tulsa World . Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 Luetkemeyer, Em (June 12, 2025). "Federal Lawmakers are Steering Clear of State Politics When It Comes to the Gubernatorial Race". Oklahoma Watch . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  19. 1 2 McFerron, Pat (August 25, 2025). "Drummond Expands Lead". Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  20. ↑ "OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR POLL: Gentner Drummond Dominates the Republican Primary Field" (PDF). Victory Insights. February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  21. 1 2 McFerron, Pat (February 18, 2025). "First Look at the 2026 Governor's Contest". Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  22. ↑ McFerron, Pat. "Drummond Maintains Lead over Walters". Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  23. ↑ Media, Griffin (April 15, 2025). "Oklahoma House Rep. Cyndi Munson announces run for governor". KOTV-DT . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  24. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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