Who is Mike Mazzei and what is Mazzei running on in the 2026 Oklahoma Governor race?

Mike Mazzei is the Republican candidate for Oklahoma governor. Former Oklahoma state senator; won the GOP runoff over Attorney General Gentner Drummond in Aug 2026; has put about $11M of his own money into his campaign. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Open seat (Kevin Stitt term-limited).
• Rating: Decision Desk HQ: Mazzei 97% win probability, projected R+27 (Sept 2026).

Why Mazzei is ahead

• Oklahoma is deeply Republican: 53.7% GOP vs 25.1% Democratic registration.
• Mazzei emerged from a bruising, divided runoff, beating AG Gentner Drummond with 50.3% on Aug 25.
• Munson pitches crossover appeal and attacks Mazzei’s self-funding, but no public head-to-head polls exist.

What Mazzei is running on

• Income tax. Eliminate the state income tax within six years, cutting the rate from 4.5% to 3% in year one.
• Property tax. Eliminate property taxes for seniors 65+ and military veterans.
• Spending. Create a state ‘Department of Government Efficiency’, use performance-based budgeting, end corporate subsidies including tax breaks for green energy and data centers.
• Education. Hire a statewide literacy director and adopt a third-grade reading gate; more classroom transparency for parents.
• Pensions. Plans to shore up law enforcement pension systems while keeping defined benefits.
• Industry / environment. Supports the Inola aluminum smelter with strict Clean Air compliance and independent monitoring.

In Mazzei’s own words

“As Governor I will make decisions through three filters: one the Bible, two the Constitution, and three can we afford it.”

“I plan on hiring a statewide literacy director and implementing what’s called a third-grade reading gate.”

The other candidates

• Cyndi Munson (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.