Democrat Cyndi Munson announces bid for Oklahoma governor against growing field of Republicans

Oklahoma’s gubernatorial race drew its first Democrat on Tuesday when state Rep. Cyndi Munson, the minority leader in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, announced she was seeking the post.

Munson, 39, joins four Republicans seeking the post, including former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former House Speaker Charles McCall and businesswoman Leisa Mitchell Haynes.

In an interview with The Oklahoman, Munson said she wanted to be governor to improve life for all Oklahomans. The Oklahoma City lawmaker said she believed the 2026 governor’s race should be about the issues facing people in Oklahoma and not just federal politics.

“I think economic challenges are going to prevail,” she said. “Those are still going to be concerns for Oklahomans. And I think they (state residents) are ready to hear from a normal Oklahoman who understands living paycheck to paycheck.”

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She said she believes state voters have been frightened by how politicized both state and national issues have become.

“With everything that is happening on the federal level there is so much uncertainty,” she said. “What you see happening on the state government right now, almost every statewide leader is vying for the president’s attention and looking at national politics versus listening to what Oklahomans have to say.”

Munson said cultural war issues have sidelined more important issues such as increasing teacher pay and making college more affordable. Munson said she also wants to address the state’s infrastructure needs and improve roads and highways.

“I’ve spent way too much money on car tires,” she said.

As one of the younger candidates in the contest, Munson, who turns 40 in May, said she’s ready for the hard work. She said she was good at building relationships and connecting with people with different ideas.

“You have to sometimes put some of your differences away and figure out where you have common ground,” she said. “I think I have been able to do that. I get it that there will be moments where they (Republicans) want to fight me. But they fight the current governor who is in their party right now — that’s not unusual.”

Munson faces several serious challenges to become governor. The last time Oklahomans elected a Democratic governor was in 2006, when voters reelected then-Gov. Brad Henry to a second term. Republicans have held a majority in the Oklahoma Legislature for more than 20 years.

Currently, Democrats hold 20 seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives to the GOP’s 81. In the state Senate, Democrats hold eight seats to the Republicans’ 40. Those numbers, however, don’t worry Munson.

Munson said she was ready for the fight.

“I love a challenge,” she said. “In a state like Oklahoma where people think that Democrats can’t win or can’t retain their seats or that they have no resources or no infrastructure — we can overcome those challenges and make a way and hopefully change some minds throughout the country.”

Oklahomans will return to the polls next year to decide the state’s next governor. The primary election is scheduled for June 16, 2026, with the general election set for Nov. 23, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Democrat Cyndi Munson will run for Oklahoma governor in 2026