Articles
School Chief Race Wide Open
Sooner Survey: Volume 37 No. 8 ⎸May 14, 2026 ⎸I have to admit, I have been hesitant to release these numbers because what they tell us is that voters are NOT yet engaged in this contest. There is simply not a great deal of insight into the state of the race other than that one statement. Not a single candidate is in double-digits at this time and a remarkable 61% say they are undecided.
One demonstration of how wide open this contest is that Debra Herlihy – unknown to even the most politically active insiders – sits tied for third at 6% and actually leads among women (8%). The most prominent and likely explanation for her support is that her first name of Debra is the only name that is generally exclusively used for females (especially on the phone, Toni can come across as a male name).
The Battle Over Minimum Wage
Sooner Survey: Volume 37 No. 7 ⎸May 12, 2026 ⎸When the effort to increase Oklahoma’s minimum wage was launched, no statewide initiative to raise the minimum wage had been defeated at the ballot box anywhere in America in almost 30 years. But in 2024, California of all places, rejected an increase to $18 an hour. Now, Oklahomans will largely be credited with determining if this was an anomaly or if the inflation of recent years has changed voter perception. Our current study shows that while the contest is not over, if it were held today, SQ 832 would pass.
Byrd Enters as Frontrunner
Sooner Survey: Volume 37 No. 4 ⎸March 24, 2026 ⎸This edition of The Sooner Survey is a little different. Instead of looking at voters, this study examines the responses of 500 parents and/or guardians of school-aged children in the Sooner State. For the simplicity and clarity, when this analysis uses the term “parent” it is referring to both parents and guardians.
Shannon Outdistancing Field
Sooner Survey: Volume 37 No. 4 ⎸March 24, 2026 ⎸This edition of The Sooner Survey is a little different. Instead of looking at voters, this study examines the responses of 500 parents and/or guardians of school-aged children in the Sooner State. For the simplicity and clarity, when this analysis uses the term “parent” it is referring to both parents and guardians.
Oklahoma Parents Speak Out on Reforms
Sooner Survey: Volume 37 No. 4 ⎸March 24, 2026 ⎸This edition of The Sooner Survey is a little different. Instead of looking at voters, this study examines the responses of 500 parents and/or guardians of school-aged children in the Sooner State. For the simplicity and clarity, when this analysis uses the term “parent” it is referring to both parents and guardians.
Education Survey 2025 with Overlay




