As many Oklahomans know, the Primary Election is drawing near. On June 16, residents will fill the polls to vote on various issues.
A major one is the new Oklahoma Governor and Lieutenant Governor. There are nine candidates on the Republican ballot vying for the Governor’s chair Gentner Drummond, Kenneth Sturgell, Chip Keating, Mike Mazzei, Jake A. Merrick, Charles McCall, LeisaMitchellHaynes,Calup Anthony Taylor and Jennifer Domenico.
Gentner,thecurrentOklahoma Attorney General, was born in Stillwater, Okla. He served eight years with the United States Air Force where he earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for “superb situational awareness, airmanship and understanding of the established rules of engagement”, three Air Medals and four Aerial Achievement Medals.
Gentner’s platform includes issues like lowering the cost of living for Oklahomans, safe communities and the rule of law, growing Oklahoma’s economy, fixing rural roads, getting education back on track, expanding affordable healthcare, addressinghomelessnessand mental health, working with tribal partners and holding the government accountable.
Sturgell is from Goldsby, Okla. He has a Bachelor’s of Science from Cameron University. HehasownedIceman Mechanical for 27 years.
His platform is a conservative one. He is focused on continuing to ban abortion, protecting the 2nd Amendment, beingagainstmandatoryvaccines, smaller governments, lowering the tax burdens on the retired community, fixing the homelessness issues, stopping foreign countries from buying up Oklahoma land and he also said he only believes in two genders.
Keating is a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, Secretary of Public Safety, and independent businessman. Keating also spent two decades in the oil and gas industry.
His platform is based on taking on “the threats facing Oklahoma families, crack down on crime, grow Oklahoma’s economy and work with President Trump to make Oklahoma a leader in the America First agenda.”
Mazzei has been in the State Senate for 12 years, is the Senate Finance Chairman and is the Oklahoma Secretary of the Budget.
His platform focuses on eliminating property tax for seniors and veterans, protecting Oklahoma land, education reform, policies to attract investment for higher paying jobs, keeping the government accountable and the right to life by opposing abortion.
Merrickisaaformermember of the Oklahoma Senate, where he represented Senate District 22 from 2021 to 2022. Before entering politics, Merrick built a diverse career as a pastor, theology professor, entrepreneur, personaltrainer and radio host. He has also worked in construction and has been active in Christian ministry throughout much of his adult life. A native Oklahoman, Merrick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Divinity. During his legislative service, he became known for advocating conservative policies centered on religious liberty, parental rights, limited government and constitutional principles.
McCall is one of the state's most recognizable political leaders after serving as the longest-tenured Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. A native of Atoka, McCall comes from a family with deep roots in southeastern Oklahoma and a long history in community banking. Before entering state politics, he worked in his family's banking business and later became president and chief executive officer of AmeriState Bank. McCall was born in Atoka on April 19, 1970, and holds a bachelor's degree in finance and economics.Healsocompleted advanced banking studies through the Graduate School of Banking. In 2012, he was elected to represent House District 22 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, becoming the first Republican to hold that seat. Four years later, fellow lawmakers elected him Speaker of the House, a position he held from 2017 until leaving the Legislature because of term limits in 2024. During his tenure, he became the longest-serving Speaker in Oklahoma history.
His campaign has focused on issues including tax reduction, education, economic growth and rural development.
Haynes is a native of Stillwater, and has spent much of her career in community development, municipal government and economic development programs. She has described public service as a lifelong calling and has said her interest in government began during childhood. Haynes earned a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in public administration. Her educational background led to work in media, community development and local government administration.
She has cited her experience in local government, budgeting,economicdevelopment and community revitalization as key qualifications for seeking the governor's office. Haynes currently resides in Choctaw and has emphasized issues such as infrastructure improvements, education reform, economic development, support for local businesses and assistance for vulnerable populations. She entered the 2026 gubernatorial race as one of the first declared Republican candidates and has campaigned as a noncareer politician focused on serving communities across Oklahoma.
Taylor is a resident of Broken Bow, Taylor has built his career as a boilermaker and millwright, working in refineries, power plants and paper mills across the United States since he was 18 years old. He has described himself as a working-class candidate and often refers to himself as the “Workman’s Governor,” emphasizing his background in skilled trades and his firsthand experience with the challenges faced by everyday Oklahoma families. Taylor enteredthegovernor’sraceas a political newcomer with no previous elected office experience. He said his decision to run was motivated by concerns about taxes, the cost of living,ruralOklahomaissues andtheneedforstrongersupport for working families. His campaign platform includes increasing access to health care, helping students afford college, improving county roads and infrastructure and raising teacher pay.
Domenico was raised in Stillwater, and she has built her career as a small business owner and business professional with experience in finance, auditing, grants management, contracts and banking.Shehasalsoworked in leadership positions for more than three decades and has highlighted her background in financial oversight and government accountability as key qualifications for public office. Domenico attended St. Gregory's University, where she studied business, finance and medical science. She also attended Oklahoma State University, studying business, finance, and pre-law.
Domenico has stated that, if elected governor, she would focus on improving education, healthcare, tourism, infrastructure and economic development in Oklahoma. She has also emphasized government auditing and accountability as major priorities of her campaign.
TheDemocraticballotonly hasthreecandidatesrunning for governor. Arya Azma, Cyndi Munson and Connie Johnson.
Azma was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2014. His career experience includesworkingasanequity options market-maker and bond trader.
Munson is the daughter of a Vietnam War Veteran and a South Korean immigrant, and she grew up in Lawton. She is focused on raising teacher’s pay, providing tax relief for all Oklahomans, lowering health care costs and repealing Oklahoma’s abortion ban.
Johnson was born in Holdenville, Okla. and has a bachelor’s in French, a master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling and a doctorate in Political Science. She has 24 years experience as a senior legislative analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate. She made history in 2014 as the first woman and African/ Native American to secure a major party nomination for theU.S.SenateinOklahoma.
She is focused on affordable healthcare for all Oklahoma citizens, keeping cannabis legal for medicinal use, criminal justice reform, voter registration, civic engagement, veterans advocacy, supporting public education and more.
Other items on the ballot include candidates for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Insurance Commissioner, Corporation Commissioner, United States Senator, United States Representative District 2, District Attorney District 20, County Treasurer and County Commissioner District 1.
The Republican Lieutenant Governor candidates are T.W. Shannon, Darrell Weaver, David Ostrowe, Justin JJ Humphrey, Brian Hill and H. Victor Flores. The Attorney General candidates are Jon Echols and Jeff Starling. State Treasure candidatesareToddRussand Cyndy Byrd.
Robert Franklin, James Taylor, Adam Pugh Debra A. Herlihy, William E. Crozier, Toni Hasenbeck and John Cox are all the Republican candidates for Superintendent. The Democratic candidates are Jennettie Marshall and Craig McVay.
The Commissioner of Labor candidates are Lisa Janloo,KeithSwinton,Kevin WestandJohnPfeiffer.Greta Shuler, Marty L. Quinn, Bob Sullivan and Chris Merideth are the Insurance Commissioner candidates.
The Republican candidates for the Corporation Commission are Brad Boles and Justin Hornback. The Democratic candidates are Rhonda Eastman, Harold D. Spradling and Donald Anthony Clytus.
Gary Ty England, Kevin Hern, Sean Buckner, Brian RagainandNickHankinsare the Republican candidates for United States Senator. The Democratic candidates are R. O. Joe Cassity, Jr, N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, Jim Priest, Troy W. Green and Ervin Stone Yen.
The Republican candidates for the United States Representative District 2 are Josh Brecheen and Will Webb. The Democratic candidates are Erik Terwey and Brandon Wade.
The two local elections are for County Treasurer and County Commissioner District 1.TheCountyTreasurer candidates are Mary Ann Hale and Laura Larkin. The threecandidatesvyingforthe County Commissioner seat are Justin “Wormy” Ayres, Robert Chaney and Jerry Don Stuckey.