Mike Mazzei and Cyndi Munson will face off in the November general election.
Oklahomans will head to the polls on Nov. 3 to elect a new governor, with Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson contending to succeed current governor Kevin Stitt. The race comes as both candidates emphasize public education, health care, taxes and the cost of living. The outcome of the election will shape Oklahoma’s policies on education, economic development and social issues when the next administration takes office in January 2027.
Backed by President Donald Trump, Mazzei is a former state senator and current Tulsa businessman. He took the spot on the ballot after narrowly defeating state Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Aug. 25 in the election for the Republican nomination. His campaign focuses on tax reductions, economic growth and government accountability. He plans to phase out the state income tax over six years and eliminate the property tax for seniors and veterans, while still maintaining funding for schools and local governments. Mazzei argues that reducing taxes and limiting government spending will help families and businesses mitigate rising costs. He also plans on creating a statewide K-12 reading program to improve reading proficiency.
Munson, the Oklahoma house minority leader, secured the Democratic nomination in June. Her campaign focuses on affordability, public education and healthcare access. She supports targeted tax relief for working families, expanding childcare support and affordable housing policies. She has also called for increases in teacher pay and investment in public schools, arguing that education and access to healthcare are crucial for the state’s long-term economic development. Munson pledged to repeal Oklahoma’s abortion ban, too.
Despite the differing policies of both Mazzei and Munson, some TU students have mixed feelings about how represented they feel by either candidate. Sophomore mechanical engineering and German double major Taliesin Štimac explained that he does not align with either candidate, but that “that was to be expected.” He continued, saying, “I’m registered as a Democrat, but still very firmly have leftist beliefs.” In addition, Štimac does not feel fully informed about the upcoming race. “I would like to dig in more to their individual platforms,” he stated. “Because right now I feel like the state of political ads … are very superficial. They don’t actually explain much of anything.”
Other students, however, are happy with at least one choice. Junior chemistry major McCaleb Doyle said that “Munson was my first choice for Democratic nominee, so I do feel represented by her.” When asked about the outcome of the election, Doyle was less optimistic. “I don’t think she’s going to win, unfortunately,” he said. “I think a lot of Oklahoma voters just see Democrats as blatantly evil.” Štimac was more hopeful: “You can’t just assume that the right is going to win because we’re in an extremely red state, because there is a blue wave, and that’s caused by people showing up and voting.”
Both campaigns are now focusing on the general election, and accordingly, Munson and Mazzei are each attempting to reach voters across the state. Munson continues to travel throughout Oklahoma, having stopped in small towns like Marietta and Healdton last week and heading for larger cities like Mustang and Stillwater this coming week. For Mazzei, President Donald Trump is coming to Oklahoma this Thursday, Oct. 1 to campaign for him at a rally in Durant. The rally is scheduled for the same night as the live debate between Mazzei and Munson, hosted by the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, which will now be pre-recorded.
The debate will give voters another opportunity to hear directly from Mazzei and Munson. With six weeks left until the election, both candidates face the perennial challenge of convincing voters that their platforms address the issues that matter to them. Whether they are successful in their attempts will be seen on election day, when voters decide who Oklahoma’s next governor will be.
