Oklahoma Runoff Elections: A Breakdown

As the Oklahoma Runoff Elections near, The Vista breaks down each candidate on the ballot to consider on Aug. 25.

Gubernatorial Candidates

Two Republican candidates are on the ballot for Governor. 

– Gentner Drummond

Drummond has been Oklahoma’s Attorney General since 2023. Before running for political office, Drummond served as a combat pilot for the United States Air Force during the Gulf War. After completing his service, he obtained his law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. 

According to Drummond’s website, his top three priorities include reducing the cost of living, keeping Oklahomans safe, and fostering economic growth. 

1. Reducing the cost of living: His plan to reduce the cost of living includes holding insurance companies accountable for being honest in setting rates. Regarding income tax, he states that before any tax cuts take place, he will require a revenue and reserve test. Regarding property taxes, he plans on preventing reductions that threaten schools, law enforcement, and roads. He also plans to prevent an increase in taxes that impact seniors, veterans, and fixed-income homeowners.

2. Safety for Oklahomans: To ensure this, his plans include putting a stop to cartel activity and drug trafficking, bolstering local law enforcement, and “protecting Oklahoma from foreign adversaries [that exploit] our land and systems.”

3. Growing the economy: To accomplish this, his plans involve promoting Oklahoma as an outstanding place for business and collaborating with Tribal Nations to grow industries and create job opportunities. He also plans to broaden apprenticeship and CareerTech opportunities, as well as provide high school students the opportunity to earn credit through apprenticeship programs.

– Mike Mazzei

Mazzei was elected and served 12 years in the Senate. He was then appointed Secretary of Budget by Gov. Kevin Stitt. According to LinkedIn, he attended the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

According to Mazzei’s website, his top three priorities include erasing property taxes for veterans and seniors, protecting Oklahoma land, and improving education. 

1. Eliminating property taxes: For veterans and seniors also incorporates reduced tax collections and spending. Throughout this process, he assures that schools and local services will remain fully funded. He also intends to produce a retirement model through 401K plans that is more sustainable in urban areas. Then he plans to eliminate property taxes and special-interest property tax breaks for data centers and renewable energy sources. 

2. Protecting Oklahoma land: To achieve this, his plan includes preventing foreign entities from owning land in Oklahoma and demands complete transparency of land ownership. To defend farmers’ and landowners’ rights, he plans to protect agricultural lands from overdevelopment, guarantee landowners maintain control of water and mineral rights, and prevent land from being sold for renewable source projects. To localize economic benefits, he plans to focus on local farmers and businesses, and secure long-term stability.

3. Improving education: To accomplish this, his plan involves improving parental oversight in decision-making and shifting elections to November. He also plans to strengthen critical thinking, reading proficiency, math, and science. Then he plans to increase teachers’ pay, “end wokeism in higher education teacher programs,” and reestablish control in the classroom. To ensure postsecondary success, he plans to expand career and technical education opportunities and reinforce collaboration with employers.

Superintendent Candidates 

Two Republicans are on the ballot for State Superintendent. 

– Robert Franklin

Franklin has 44 years of public education experience in Oklahoma, ranging from special education teacher to high school principal and Associate Superintendent at Tulsa Tech. Franklin currently serves in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

According to Franklin’s website, his top three priorities are getting back to the basics, building parental engagement, and supporting a family’s school choice. 

1. Back to the basics: Tackling literacy and numeracy while also providing teachers with the necessary materials.

2. Building Parental Engagement: Franklin believes families should stay up to date on their child’s education. His plan to build engagement involves building partnerships between schools and families. He also believes “education should stay focused on preparing students for life — not chasing every political fad or culture war distraction that takes attention away from student achievement.”

3. School Choice: His third priority is supporting a family’s school choice. His plan involves ensuring efficiency while prioritizing students.

– James Taylor

According to an interview with Fox23, James Taylor has more than 40 years of ministry experience and 18 years of classroom experience, including teaching high school U.S. government, history, and current events. He currently serves as senior pastor at First Christ’s Church and teaches history and government at Little Axe High School in Norman, Oklahoma.

According to Taylor’s website, his top three priorities include teacher recruitment and retention, legislative alignment for schools, and academic success. 

1. Teacher Recruitment: He plans to retain teachers by improving the process teachers experience when entering the classroom and by improving compensation.

2. School Legislation Alignment: Taylor believes academic regulations should be designed in collaboration with parents and teachers. He plans to promote legislation that supports education while ensuring that local school voices are heard in statewide mandates.

3. Academic Success: His third priority targets academic performance. He plans to help Oklahoma rise through the ranks by focusing on fundamental skills while providing clear progress updates.

Editors Note: The Vista has reached out to all candidates and are awaiting their responses. Once responses are collected, they will be included in the article.

Ballot Questions

Question 844 asks whether Oklahoma’s constitution should be amended to allow the Legislature to alter how schools and communities are reimbursed for certain manufacturing property tax exemptions. 

Question 846 asks whether Oklahoma’s constitution should be amended to require proof of identification for all voting methods.