Oklahoma voters cast ballots in primary elections on June 16 for governor, Senate, and House races in what is shaping up as a consequential election cycle driven by term limits, retirements, and a high-profile presidential appointment. A combination of these factors has opened multiple seats across the state, triggering competitive contests that will determine the Republican and Democratic nominees ahead of the November general election.
The gubernatorial race stands as one of the most crowded contests on the ballot. Nine Republicans and three Democrats are seeking nominations to replace Governor Kevin Stitt, who is term-limited after serving since 2019. The Republican field includes Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former state House Speaker Charles McCall, state Senator Mike Mazzei, and former state Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating, according to PBS News. The Democratic candidates include state House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson and former state Senator Connie Johnson.
President Donald Trump opened another high-profile vacancy when he named U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin to replace Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security secretary in March 2026. Mullin’s appointed replacement, energy executive Alan Armstrong, opted not to seek a full term, creating a competitive Republican primary to fill the seat. The Republican Senate primary features U.S. Representative Kevin Hern, who received Trump’s endorsement just days after launching his campaign in March. According to The Hill, Trump called Hern a “true friend” and backed him to succeed Mullin. Five Democrats are also competing for their party’s nomination in the Senate race, including attorney and minister Jim Priest.
Hern’s campaign has significantly outraised his Democratic opponent. As of late May, Hern’s campaign had $6.8 million in available cash, far exceeding Priest’s $118,000, according to PBS News. The Republican primary for the open House seat in Oklahoma’s First Congressional District is notably crowded, with 11 candidates competing to replace Hern. In other House races, Republican incumbents Josh Brecheen, Frank Lucas, and Tom Cole are seeking reelection in Districts 2, 3, and 4, respectively.
Candidates in Oklahoma’s primaries must receive a majority of votes to win the nomination. If no candidate reaches 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff scheduled for August 25. As of Friday before the election, about 35,000 ballots had already been cast early or by mail, including approximately 21,000 from Republicans, 12,000 from Democrats, and 2,000 from unaffiliated voters, according to PBS News.
Oklahoma also placed State Question 832 on the June 16 ballot, which would raise the state minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour by 2029. Starting in 2030, the measure would tie future minimum wage increases to cost-of-living adjustments. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, may cast ballots on the statewide measure.
The state remains solidly Republican in general elections. Oklahoma had Trump’s fifth-highest vote share of any state in the 2024 presidential election, according to PBS News. A Democrat has not carried Oklahoma in a presidential race since President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The state last elected a Democratic governor in 2006 and a Democratic U.S. senator in 1990, reflecting the state’s deep Republican lean.
Sources
- PBS News — provided detailed information on the crowded gubernatorial and Senate primaries, candidate profiles, early voting data, and Oklahoma’s electoral history
- The Washington Post — confirmed primary dates, candidate fields for governor, Senate, and House races, and voting procedures
- The Hill — reported on Trump’s endorsement of Kevin Hern for Senate
- AOL News — reported on Hern leading the GOP Senate primary
- The Oklahoman — covered Trump’s endorsement of Hern and timing relative to his campaign launch
