Mike Mazzei, a Tulsa Republican and former state senator, is running for governor of Oklahoma in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Cyndi Munson.
Mazzei, who chaired the Senate Finance Committee during his time in the Legislature, said on his campaign website that as secretary of budget he helped grow Oklahoma's savings account to more than $1 billion, which he described as the largest in state history at the time. He is campaigning on cutting taxes, eliminating government waste and holding agencies accountable for results.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Born: May 30, 1965
- Family: Married to Noel; five adult children
- Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, George Mason University (1987); master's degree in financial planning, College for Financial Planning (2016); certificate in leadership management, University of Virginia (2022)
- Current employment: CEO of Trinity Strategic Wealth, where Mazzei said he manages more than $1.5 billion in assets
Experience and public service
Mazzei served as a state senator representing District 25 from 2004 to 2016, according to BallotReady. He said he chaired the Senate Finance Committee from 2008 to 2018, according to his campaign website.
Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Mazzei as Oklahoma's secretary of budget, a post he held from Jan. 14, 2019, to Oct. 12, 2020, according to his Wikipedia page. He also served as branch manager at Raymond James Financial Services from 1993 to 2025, according to BallotReady.
On the issues
Mazzei outlined these positions on his campaign website and in his BallotReady responses.
Taxes and budget: Mazzei said he would eliminate property taxes for seniors and veterans. He said property taxes keep rising even when incomes do not and that no Oklahoman should be taxed out of their home for staying put. He also said he would end special-interest property tax breaks for green energy and data centers, eliminate what he called poor-return corporate welfare and close loopholes that reduce payments to counties. He proposed performance-based budgeting, requiring every agency to prove it delivers value before receiving increases, with results made public. He said he would create a dedicated unit to review every agency and program for duplication, mission creep and outdated spending. Programs would expire unless re-approved on merit.
Economy: Mazzei said he would promote lower income taxes and fewer regulations to attract investment. He said he would end blanket tax abatements that benefit global corporations while local communities absorb the cost. He also said he would sunset outdated regulations that hurt entrepreneurs.
Education: Mazzei said he would prioritize reading proficiency by third grade, expand career and technical education pathways and reinforce math, science and critical thinking skills. He said he would pay teachers tops in the region and support initiatives that emphasize practical, job-relevant education. He also said he would restore parental transparency and involvement in education decisions.
Land and agriculture: Mazzei said he would preserve agricultural land from misuse and over-development. He said he would prohibit foreign governments and foreign-controlled companies from owning Oklahoma land.
Endorsements
The following endorsements are listed on Mazzei's campaign endorsements page and BallotReady profile data:
- Donald J. Trump, president of the United States
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders, governor of Arkansas
- Josh Brecheen, U.S. congressman, Oklahoma
- John M. O'Connor, former attorney general of Oklahoma
- Sean Kouplen, chairman and CEO of Regent Bank and former Oklahoma secretary of commerce
- College Republicans of America
Candidate responses were gathered from Mazzei's campaign website and BallotReady. The Oklahoma City Ledger did not interview the candidate for this profile.
