Oklahoma Governor election results 2026: Mazzei wins over Munson, AP says

Republican Mike Mazzei will be Oklahoma's next governor after defeating Oklahoma City Democrat Cyndi Munson on Nov. 3, according to a projection first reported by Decision Desk HQ, as covered by The Hill.

With just over half of ballots counted early on election night, Mazzei held 55.1% to Munson's 42.7%, according to Associated Press data published by NBC News. That data showed 730,238 total votes at the time of the projection. Independent Robert E. Brooks Sr. of Moore trailed with 1.1%.

As more votes came in, the margin narrowed. By 11 p.m., Mazzei led Munson by a 6-point margin with nearly all votes counted except those cast in Comanche County, The Oklahoman reported. The Journal Record reported Mazzei had nearly 52% to Munson's 45.87% by publication time. KOSU reported Mazzei won 53% of the vote in results last updated at 10:32 p.m.

730,238 total votes counted as of early election night, Nov. 3. Later counts showed the margin narrowing to roughly 6 points with nearly all precincts reporting. Sources: AP data via NBC News; The Oklahoman; Journal Record; KOSU. All results are unofficial.

Election night in Oklahoma City

Munson, the House minority leader who represents Oklahoma City's House District 85, held her watch party at the OKC Farmers Public Market, The Oklahoman reported. Early voting totals showed Munson in the lead, but Mazzei moved ahead once Election Day ballots were counted, The Oklahoman reported.

Mazzei declared victory at his watch party in Tulsa. He walked off stage to "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC, then returned to tell supporters Munson had called to congratulate him, The Oklahoman reported.

The Journal Record reported Mazzei's campaign declared victory at 10:08 p.m., even as technical difficulties prevented votes from being counted in Comanche and Cleveland counties.

How the race shaped up

Mazzei, a financial adviser and former state senator from Tulsa, succeeds term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt. The win keeps the governor's office in Republican hands. Oklahoma has not elected a Democrat to statewide office in 20 years, KGOU reported.

Mazzei won President Donald Trump's endorsement and survived a close GOP primary runoff against Attorney General Gentner Drummond in August, winning by about 2,000 votes, KGOU reported. He made tax cuts a central campaign promise, proposing to eliminate the income tax and end property taxes for seniors and veterans, according to KGOU.

Mazzei loaned his own campaign $11 million through August, making up almost 90% of the money his campaign raised, according to state filings reported by KGOU. The Oklahoman reported Mazzei, 61, relied on more than $12 million of his own money overall.

Munson, the first Asian American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, campaigned on increasing public school investment, lowering health care costs and repealing Oklahoma's abortion ban, the OU Daily reported. Munson, 41, relied on small-dollar donations and spent about one-fifth as much as Mazzei, according to The Oklahoman.

Big spending, national context

Outside groups poured more than $5.5 million into Oklahoma's midterm races, KGOU reported. The Republican Governors Association pledged at least $3 million to support Mazzei. The Democratic Governors Association pledged $500,000 to Munson, KGOU reported.

Mazzei's victory came on a night when Republicans recorded losses to Democrats nationwide, The Oklahoman reported. That trend did not touch statewide races in Oklahoma, where the GOP swept all statewide offices on the ballot, according to The Oklahoman.

All results are unofficial until certified. The inauguration is set for Jan. 11, 2027, according to the Journal Record. Updated results will continue to post on the Oklahoma State Election Board website.