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At a May 13 forum hosted by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Republican hopefuls for governor and attorney general presented sharply different blueprints for the state’s next four years — and the debate foreshadowed key policy fights ahead of the June 16 primary. Business leaders and voters heard competing proposals on education, taxes, public safety and tribal relations that could reshape budget choices and services as Oklahoma heads toward the 2026 election cycle.
The event gathered gubernatorial candidates Chip Keating, Gentner Drummond, Mike Mazzei and Charles McCall, along with attorney general contenders John Echols and Jeff Starling. While each speaker framed priorities in their own terms, several themes recurred across the discussion: workforce preparedness, literacy, tax policy and enforcement around illegal marijuana activity.
Where the candidates stand
Chip Keating, drawing on his background as a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper and private-sector experience, argued for a mix of school reform, strengthened public-safety measures and modernizing state government operations. He also called for stepped-up infrastructure spending and tougher action on illicit cannabis operations.
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Current Attorney General Gentner Drummond emphasized his record in the AG’s office and stressed cooperation with tribal nations, expansion of workforce programs and improvements to healthcare and mental health services. He pointed to ongoing legal efforts targeting organized activity tied to illegal marijuana as part of his public-safety agenda.
Mike Mazzei focused his remarks on fiscal policy and workforce development. He proposed a phased approach to eliminating the state income tax and advocated for greater investment in career-technical education and literacy initiatives to prepare Oklahoma workers for emerging industries.
Charles McCall framed his priorities around economic competitiveness: boosting infrastructure, enhancing healthcare access, and planning long-term tax policy to keep Oklahoma attractive to businesses compared with neighboring states. He highlighted collaboration with tribal governments as central to statewide growth.
Attorney general priorities
John Echols and Jeff Starling used the Chamber forum to outline how they would run the attorney general’s office. Both raised issues of public corruption, tort reform and regulatory simplification, and stressed the office’s role in overseeing state agencies and defending consumer rights. Each candidate also said enforcement against illegal marijuana networks would remain a prosecutorial focus.
- Workforce readiness: All candidates connected education and training to economic growth and employer needs.
- Literacy outcomes: Several proposals targeted early reading and career-technical programs as levers for long-term workforce improvement.
- Tax reform: Debate centered on revenue policy and the potential phased elimination of the state income tax.
- Tribal partnerships: Collaboration with tribal nations was raised as a practical and political priority.
- Illegal marijuana enforcement: Multiple speakers described efforts to disrupt organized operations tied to unregulated cannabis.
For Chamber members and local business leaders, the forum provided a chance to press candidates on items that affect day-to-day operations — from workforce pipelines to transportation and public-safety costs. The discussion underscored that policy choices made now will shape Oklahoma’s fiscal flexibility and service delivery during the next administration.
With the June 16 primary approaching, the perspectives offered at the forum give a snapshot of the issues likely to dominate the campaign: how to fund government priorities, how to bolster schools and training, and how aggressively to pursue enforcement in areas such as illegal marijuana activity. Multiple candidates from across parties remain in the statewide races, setting the stage for a contest that will test which policy priorities resonate most with voters and the business community.
