Politics
Oklahoma governor hopefuls agree on teacher raises, diverge on how to pay
Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson both say Oklahoma teachers need higher pay, but offered different approaches as they campaigned for governor. Munson emphasized bipartisan cooperation and teachers’ financial pressures; Mazzei said economic growth could offset proposed tax cuts.
Oklahoma’s two major-party candidates for governor say teachers should earn more, but neither laid out a specific raise amount in remarks published Oct. 21, 2026, as voters prepared for the midterm election.
Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson said she believes teacher pay has bipartisan support in the Republican-led Legislature, despite the difficulty of advancing proposals across party lines. She said her 11 years serving in the legislative superminority had taught her that passing legislation requires Republican support.
“We know we have to increase teacher pay,” Munson said, adding that Oklahoma remained last in the nation for teacher pay even after previous increases. She also pointed to teachers working multiple jobs and paying out of pocket for school supplies, while helping provide clothing and food to students.
Republican nominee Mike Mazzei said his proposed cuts to income and property taxes, including the homestead tax, would be revenue-neutral. He argued that a broader economic growth plan would increase tax collections over time, as he said had happened during the past two decades.
Mazzei did not provide a specific teacher-pay proposal in the remarks. He said he wanted prospective teachers to feel supported and valued, describing teaching as a calling and urging the state to celebrate the profession.
The candidates’ comments put the financing of public education alongside teacher compensation in the campaign debate. Munson stressed building support across party lines, while Mazzei linked the possibility of raises to economic growth and his tax proposals.