Democrat Cyndi Munson supports raising the wage and says she would make it an early priority if elected. Republican Mike Mazzei opposes any increase, arguing it could hurt jobs.

“I do not support any increases in the minimum wage,” Mazzei said in an interview. He described himself as a small-business owner and said he believes higher minimum wages depress employment for minorities. He also pointed to Oklahoma voters’ rejection of State Question 832.

The citizen-led measure, defeated earlier this year, would have raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2029 and then linked future increases to the cost of living. Oklahoma is among 20 states where the minimum wage remains at $7.25, according to the report. At that rate, a full-time worker earns about $15,000 a year before taxes.

Munson said a worker would need to earn at least $14.45 an hour to cover basic expenses such as rent for a one-bedroom apartment, utilities, groceries and gas. “Many of the economic challenges families are facing right now is because they’re simply not making enough money,” she said.

In 2025, Munson introduced a House bill to set the minimum wage at $15 an hour, but it did not advance out of committee. She said her proposal differs from State Question 832 because it would raise the wage without tying it to inflation or removing exemptions.

Munson said she would ask the Legislature to work on a wage increase in her first State of the State address. Mazzei has said the only pay raise he supports in his campaign is for teachers.