2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial election


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.
Primary elections will be held on June 16, 2026.

Background

Oklahoma is a deeply red state. Incumbent Governor Kevin Stitt won re-election by a 13.6% margin in 2022. Democrats have not won an Oklahoma gubernatorial election since 2006.
Primary elections will be held on June 16, 2026.

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. The same month, The Black Wall Street Times reported State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters was preparing for a 2026 gubernatorial campaign. 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. In early January 2025, former state senator Mike Mazzei posted a gubernatorial campaign logo to Facebook.
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. On February 18, former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall officially announced his campaign. Mazzei officially launched his campaign on April 3. In May, former state senator Jake Merrick entered the race followed by businessman Kenneth Sturgell. On October 1, former Governor Frank Keating's son, Chip Keating, entered the race.

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Polling

with Ryan Walters

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared