Articles
Drummond Holding Steady
Sooner Survey: Volume 37 No. 1 ⎸February 9, 2026 ⎸With recent reports about the sheer amount of money individual candidates are putting into their respective campaigns for governor, it is no surprise that Oklahoma Republicans are becoming interested in the campaigns, and more than 80% of primary voters have already picked a candidate that they are at least leaning toward.
Are Oklahomans Ready to Raise Tobacco Taxes?
Sooner Survey: Volume 36 No. 5 ⎸September 16, 2025 ⎸More than 20 years ago, Oklahoma voters went to the polls and by a 7-point margin approved SQ 713 that increased the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products the equivalent of four cents per cigarette, or 80 cents per pack. At that time, more than 26% of Oklahomans were smoking, Today it is now below 16%. This 10 percent change would indicate that passing a cigarette tax may well be even easier today, and the polling certainly reflects that.
Drummond Expands Lead
Sooner Survey: Volume 36 No. 4 ⎸August 25, 2025 ⎸Recent news exposure has not been helpful for a potential gubernatorial run for Ryan Walters. Not only has his percentage in a Republican primary fallen, but his favorable to unfavorable ratio within his own party is as poor as any we have recorded during our more than 30 years of surveying Oklahomans.
Drummond Maintains Lead over Walters
Sooner Survey: Volume 36 No. 3 ⎸June 2, 2025 ⎸Just over a year before the Republican primary for Governor, Attorney General Gentner Drummond has taken a commanding lead over others who have either entered or who are rumored to be running for the GOP nomination. At 39%, Drummond has a 27-point lead over the nearest rival, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters while Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell is the only other candidate in double-digits (10%). Almost a third remain undecided (31%).
Mullin Incredibly Strong Heading into Full Term
Sooner Survey: Volume 36 No. 2 ⎸May 27, 2025 ⎸Only three Democrats have held federal office in Oklahoma this century. Put another way, out of the 175 office-holder years (seven seats for 25 years each) only 14 of those years have been filled by Democrats, and those seats are not the same today as they were when they were held by Democrats.
First Look at the 2026 Governor’s Contest
Sooner Survey: Volume 36 No. 1 ⎸February 18, 2025 ⎸Astute observers know a poll is but a snapshot in time. Too often, they are used as a predictor, when reality is, they are providing the current state of play and provide data for understanding the current political environs. And the current state of play in Oklahoma reveals Gentner Drummond currently dominates the landscape and is becoming better defined every day.





