As campaign registration deadlines loom, June primary elections are shaping up to determine who will be on the final ballot in the Sooner State’s General Election this coming November.
Will this election cycle go by quickly, or will it drag on like a really bad cold?
Regardless, let’s take a look at who’s running for what in the elections that Oklahoma County voters will be most focused on.
United States Senate: Republican incumbent Markwayne Mullin is heavily favored to win and runs unopposed in the primary. Mullin will be opposed in November by the winner of the Democratic Primary, which features candidates N’Kilya Thomas, Troy Green, and Jim Priest.
In my opinion, Mullin is a lock to win and will consolidate more power in the United States Senate as an official “Trump Whisperer.”
United States House of Representatives Congressional District 5: Stephanie Bice is the Republican incumbent and enjoys the advantage against Democrat Jena Nelson, who is best known for being the person most Oklahomans wish to have voted for against Ryan Walters in 2022. CD5 has been a GOP seat for many years, only interrupted for two years, after Kendra Horn upset Steve Russell in 2018. However, just 15 months ago, Bice won by a large margin over another Horn (Madison) in a much talked about race that was never really close.
Oklahoma’s other four congressional districts are also up for grabs, but each looks to solidly favor the Republican incumbents: Kevin Hern-CD1, Josh Brecheen-CD2, Frank Lucas-CD3 and Tom Cole-CD4. Most of these candidates are unopposed in the Republican Primary and all of them have Democratic opponents, none of whom, as of now, seem capable of an upset victory.
Statewide races promise to bring the most excitement. However, this will most likely be in the June primaries, which could cause some early summer fireworks.
Governor of Oklahoma: The Republican list of nominees is very crowded: Chip Keating announced his candidacy alongside Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Former House Speaker Charles McCall, and Former State Senators Mike Mazzei and Jake Merrick. Rounding out the crowd is a former New Mexico City Manager from Mangum, Leisa Mitchell Haynes.
Drummond seems to be the leading candidate in early polls, unless it’s one paid for by Charles McCall. But it seems the primary voters will coalesce around Drummond, Keating and the former Speaker.
Running unopposed as Democratic nominee is State Representative and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson.
Lieutenant Governor: Equally crowded is the Republican primary roster of candidates, led by a former House Speaker T.W. Shannon. Shannon entered the race recently, after an absence from politics and a stint as an advisor to the Department of Agriculture. Although heavily favored, Shannon will be contested by State Auditor Cindy Byrd, Businessman Victor Flores, State Representatives Brian Hill and Justin Humphrey, and State Senator Darrell Weaver.
On the Democratic side of the ballot will be Kelly Forbes and Candice Jay.
Attorney General: Term limited former State Representative Jon Echols will square off against political newcomer and Secretary of Energy & Environment Jeff Starling in the Republican Primary.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Coffey is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, hoping to provide formidable opposition to the Republican primary winner in November.
State Treasurer: Incumbent Todd Russ is running for re-election and has yet to draw either a Republican opponent in the primary or a Democrat hoping for an upset in November.
State Auditor: This race is wide open as Cindy Byrd is term-limited and running for another statewide office. Republican Melissa Capps, a longtime deputy in the Auditor’s Office and Director of the Performance Audit Division, is the only declared candidate from either party.
As if this is not enough to ponder, there will be multiple state senate and house seats in the metro area up for grabs, which will be much more clear after the filing period deadline in April.
Keep updated by visiting Oklahoma State Election Board website.
🗳️ Voter Registration Deadlines
- Last day to register (online, by mail, or in person):
October 9, 2026 — 25 days before Election Day.- For mail registrations, your form must be postmarked by this date.
📨 Absentee (Mail-in) Ballot Request Deadline
- Deadline to request an absentee ballot:
5:00 p.m. CT on October 19, 2026 — 15 days before the election.
📬 Absentee Ballot Return
- Return by mail: must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (Nov 3) to count.
- Hand-deliver to your county election board: deadline may be earlier (usually by close of business the day before Election Day under state law).
📅 Election Day & Early Voting
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (polls open 7 a.m.–7 p.m.).
- Early in-person (absentee) voting: typically begins several days before the election — check your county election board or the OK Voter Portal for exact early voting dates and times.
This article appears in News and Let the Games Begin.