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Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • It’s like a heatwave… Highs near 101. ☀️
Poll results:
We received 168 votes on the Monday poll, “Should taxpayer funds be allowed to support religious schools?”
11 said YES
144 said NO
10 said, “It depends on how the funds are used.”
3 said, “Not sure.”
New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)
New poll shows dead heat in Oklahoma GOP governor’s race
By Oklahoma Memo
With two weeks remaining before Oklahoma Republicans choose their nominee for governor, the race between Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei is effectively a coin flip.
A new poll from Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (CHS Inc.) has Drummond and Mazzei tied at 44% among likely Republican runoff voters, with 12% still undecided.
But longtime Oklahoma pollster Pat McFerron, who is president of the polling firm, says the voters most likely to cast a ballot appear to be leaning toward Drummond.
Why it matters: Oklahoma’s Aug. 25 Republican runoff could effectively determine the state’s next governor.
McFerron told the Oklahoma Memo Podcast that approximately 300,000 to 320,000 people could participate in the runoff. In a state of roughly 4 million people, about 160,000 Republican voters may ultimately select the next governor.
“I don’t see how this year will be any different,” McFerron said of Republicans’ longstanding dominance in Oklahoma’s statewide general elections.
What the poll found
CHS surveyed 600 Republicans with a history of participating in primary elections. Respondents also had to pass a screening question measuring how likely they were to vote in the runoff.
The poll has a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.
The overall result:
Gentner Drummond: 44%
Mike Mazzei: 44%
Undecided: 12%
The poll was conducted over several days surrounding the candidates’ Aug. 3 debate, allowing McFerron to compare interviews completed before and after the event.
Among the 149 voters interviewed before the debate, the numbers leaned toward Mazzei. The 451 people surveyed afterward broke toward Drummond.
“I’m a guy who normally doesn’t think debates matter because I don’t think very many undecided voters watch them,” McFerron said. “But it was pretty stark.”
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Here’s what’s happening in Oklahoma today:
AG asks federal court to halt construction of Oklahoma aluminum smelter (Oklahoma Voice)
City of Coweta declines to renew contract for Flock cameras, cites citizen concerns (KJRH)
New Payne County DA says he inherited a 'cloud of distrust' after Jesse Butler sexual assault case (KOCO)
Former Oklahoma School for the Deaf football coach charged with rape, child pornography (News 9)
Woman says she was abused, forced to work as child at Teen Challenge (The Oklahoman)*
What Norman leaders asked OTA about the South Extension Turnpike (News 9)
Oklahoma cyclosporiasis cases climb past 500 in latest health department update (StateImpact Oklahoma)
Report shows 45 rural hospitals at risk of closing in Oklahoma (Fox 25)
Sirloin Stockade killer granted parole, board reiterates ‘not a release’ (KJRH)
Oklahoma grows statewide team of reading coaches as new literacy laws take effect (Oklahoma Voice)
Watchdog for $46 billion tribal gambling industry can’t enforce the law without a chairperson (Oklahoma Watch)
Battery energy storage ramps up in Oklahoma after state regulator approval (StateImpact Oklahoma)
Volar Flight School expands operations to Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport (Guthrie News Page)
The University of Tulsa is cutting undergraduate tuition in half with help from major donors (Tulsa Flyer)
Here are the costs Tulsa schools and families say come with senior year. TL;DR: It’s expensive. (Tulsa Flyer)
Barry Christian, state Senate candidate found dead in western Oklahoma, died by suicide, ME says (KOCO)
Bill Haisten: Needed now from Tulsa Little League – total transparency (Tulsa World)*
Spurs, Nuggets, T-Wolves; OKC Thunder gives first look at 2026-27 regular season schedule (KFOR)
Wednesday Poll
Oklahoma is in the middle of another summertime heat wave. Are you ready for fall weather?
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