By Allan Wall

It’s 2026 and gubernatorial elections are being held in 36 states, including Oklahoma. There are fifteen candidates are running for governor in Oklahoma. Some aren’t famous and don’t stand much of a chance. But even if you lose, running for office raises your profile and may lead to future opportunities.

The Republicans, whom I will discuss here, have nine candidates: Gentner Drummond (businessman, and current Attorney General), Mike Mazzei (businessman, former State Senator and a former Secretary of Budget), Charles McCall (businessman, and former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives), Chip Keating (oil and gas businessman and former Secretary of Public Safety), Jake Merrick (former State Senator and former talk show host), Leisa Mitchell Haynes (former city manager and former Oklahoma Department of Commerce associate), Kenneth Sturgell (HVAC contractor), Jennifer Domenico (business owner) and Calup Anthony Taylor.

The Democrat candidates are Cyndi Munson, Connie Johnson and Arya Azma. The independent candidates, not affiliated with an Oklahoma recognized political party, are Robert Brooks, Sr., Orlando Lynn Bush and Jerry Griffin.

To win, the political party candidates pass through three rounds. The first is the June 16th Primary, in which unless a candidate wins an outright majority (in which case he is the nominee of the political party), there will be two winners and the rest are eliminated. Then, there is the August 25th Runoff , in which the two winning candidates from June will face off, and the winner will be the party nominee. And then, the November 3rd General Election, where the Republican, Democrat, and independents compete.

Early polling shows Gentner Drummond in the lead for the Republican Party nomination, but it’s unlikely he’ll win a majority in June. The next three candidates are running neck and neck: Mike Mazzei, Charles McCall and Chip Keating. Merrick is in fourth place.

It appears that the real contest in June belongs to Mazzei, McCall or Keating – whoever gets the #2 slot – and thus a spot in the Runoff. So, in August, that would pit Candidate X (Mazzei, McCall or Keating) against Drummond.

Whoever wins the Republican Runoff would likely beat the Democrat in November.

Candidates emphasize their strengths and what they think helps them the most. You can run as an outsider, but that’s hard if you’ve been in office. In that case you emphasize your record.

Charles McCall stresses his Speaker of the House record. Gentner Drummond emphasizes his Attorney General record and reminds you he was a fighter pilot in the Gulf War. Chip Keating runs as an outsider, although he served as Secretary of Public Safety in Governor Stitt’s cabinet and is the son of a former governor. Chip also reminds you that he’s a former state trooper.

Leisa Mitchell Haynes says that when she was in third grade, God told her she would be a governor, and in 2023 God sent an angel who told her “Now is the time.” If that’s true, the whole campaign could just be scrapped. If it’s not true, would that put Leisa Mitchell Haynes in Deuteronomy 18:22 territory? (Look it up!)

At the 2026 Southeast Oklahoma Republican Governor Primary Forum held in Idabel, candidates were asked a very direct question about E-Verify. I will direct my analysis to that question.

E-Verify is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security website which an employer can consult for free to determine if a prospective employee is legal to work in the United States. It’s a simple program based on government data and a great way to fight illegal labor. It provides the government with no information that it doesn’t already have.

During the Idabel forum, candidates were asked: “As governor, would you sign legislation extending E-Verify from currently being mandatory for only state government employees and contractors to most or all employers statewide – similar to what states like Alabama, Utah, South Carolina, and Arizona have adopted?”

Jake Merrick says he wants to eliminate the incentive for illegal immigration, but refuses to mandate E-Verify. Merrick says it’s “centralized data collection.” They already have the information Jake! Merrick says E-Verify is a burden on businesses.

Gentner Drummond, on the other hand, actually has experience with E-Verify in his own business. Drummond explained that “We’ve been E-Verifying each employee for the last 15 years. So we know that we have 100% American or green-carded employees, and it’s not a big burden to do that.” Good answer.

Kenneth Sturgell answered – but really didn’t answer the E-Verify question.

Leisa Mitchell Haynes said “I am for E-Verify only for businesses that want to do it, that can afford it to do it themselves.” Leisa, E-Verify is a free government service !

Chip Keating: “E-Verify, government mandates I don’t support.” Sounds like the “No Mom, I won’t clean my room” argument. Yet later, Keating says people shouldn’t be in the country illegally!

Charles McCall: “I don't like mandates. I don't like government getting involved in business first and foremost. But I passed the toughest immigration law of any state in the country. And I will stand with President Trump and until we, the federal government gets its arms around it, I believe that we should utilize E-Verify.”

Mike Mazzei was not present at Idabel, but is on record as supporting E-Verify. Good for Mazzei!