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 his experience in state budgeting and private-sector finance qualifies him for the job. As Oklahoma's secretary of budget from 2019 to 2020, Mazzei said he helped grow the state's savings account to more than $1 billion, which he described as the largest in state history at the time.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Family: Married to Noel; five adult children
- Church: Asbury Church
- 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)
Experience and public service
Mazzei served as a state senator representing District 25 from 2004 to 2016, according to BallotReady. He chaired the Senate Finance Committee, according to his campaign website. Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed him secretary of budget in January 2019, a post he held until October 2020, according to his Wikipedia entry.
In the private sector, Mazzei has been CEO of Trinity Strategic Wealth since 1993. He said on his campaign website that the firm manages more than $1.5 billion in assets. He also served as a branch manager at Raymond James Financial Services from 1993 to 2025 and founded The Financial Coach Inc.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Mazzei's campaign website and his responses to BallotReady questions, posted on his campaign plan page.
Taxes and spending: Mazzei said he would eliminate property taxes for seniors and veterans. He said property taxes keep rising even when incomes do not. He also called for ending special-interest property tax breaks for green energy and data centers, eliminating what he called poor-return corporate welfare, and closing loopholes that reduce payments to counties. He proposed requiring every agency to prove it delivers value before receiving budget increases, with results made public. He said he would build a dedicated unit to review every agency and program for duplication and outdated spending. Programs would expire unless re-approved on merit, he said.
Economy: Mazzei said he supports lower income taxes and fewer regulations to promote growth and attract investment. He called for ending 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 supports making Oklahoma teacher pay the highest in the region. He also called for restoring parental transparency in education decisions.
Endorsements
Mazzei lists the following endorsements on his campaign endorsements page and BallotReady profile:
- 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, Regent Bank; former Oklahoma secretary of commerce
- College Republicans of America
Candidate responses were drawn from Mazzei's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire answers.
