Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
11.3%
42%
10%
6%
Republican
Ryan Walters
Republican candidate for Governor in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Republican Governor nominee?
$1.6M
AUG 26, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current rolePolitician
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age41 years old (May 23, 1985)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationOklahoma
BackgroundPolitician
EducationHarding University (BA, graduated 2010)
Notable personal detailsRyan Matthew Walters is an American politician and former Oklahoma education official. He served as Oklahoma Secretary of Education (appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in September 2020) and later as the elected Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction (January 9, 2023–September 30, 2025). Before statewide office, he worked as a high school history teacher in McAlester and led education-advocacy nonprofits including Oklahoma Achieves/Every Kid Counts Oklahoma.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgryanwaltersforoklahoma.comidcrawl.comcommons.wikimedia.orgtwitter.comgregoryforhd26.comcomingsoon.neteverything.explained.todaywagonergop.comoklahoma.govdingo.telicon.comuploads-ssl.webflow.comsdeweb01.sde.ok.govarxiv.orgkgou.orgkosu.orgoklahomawatch.orghppr.orgapnews.comoklahomavoice.comvisaverge.comballotready.orgkoco.comnews9.compolitico.comtheguardian.comkswo.comryanwaltersok.comnewson6.comnondoc.comamericansforprosperity.orgokcfox.comhechingerreport.orgslate.comreadfrontier.orgthe74million.orgnotus.orgkansas.comedweek.orgoklahoman.compublicradiotulsa.orgjournalrecord.comfacebook.comwikidata.orggovinfo.govfec.govcongress.govdocs.house.govncsl.orgclerk.house.govnga.orgdemocrats-edworkforce.house.govhistory.house.gov
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate advocates eliminating Oklahoma’s income tax and eventually eliminating property taxes, and calls for deep government spending cuts and reduced bureaucracy to fund tax reductions. He has also promoted tax credits for tuition/education-related programs.
Healthcare
Ryan Walters opposes Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma and has publicly said he does not support expanding Medicaid. He framed Medicaid expansion as a tool used by political opponents and rejected it as policy he supports.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports aggressive immigration enforcement and shutting down the southern border, backs Trump-era/Republican enforcement policies, and has proposed and supported measures to check immigration status in schools and to share information with enforcement authorities. Advocates actions to prevent what he describes as a surge of illegal immigration and fentanyl into Oklahoma and has pushed policy changes to enable greater cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. His actions include rule proposals to require proof of citizenship/legal status at school enrollment and public statements favor
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate describes himself as "100% unapologetically pro-life," opposes public funding for organizations such as Planned Parenthood, and frames abortion as the taking of innocent human life.
Climate & Energy
Opposes expansion of large renewable "green energy" projects in Oklahoma and emphasizes the economic importance of oil and gas for the state, while criticizing preferential treatment for renewable developers. Calls for protecting property rights and local business interests over agreements favoring foreign renewable companies.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports arming and training school staff and expanding armed presence in schools (voluntary concealed-carry training for employees) as a school-safety measure and argues shootings are not primarily a "gun issue." He has pushed state education budget items to fund firearm training and signage for schools indicating trained staff carry firearms. No clear evidence found of support for assault-weapon bans or expanded background-check/red-flag policies in the sources located.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Ryan Walters is in the news because updated campaign finance figures were reported in the Republican race for Oklahoma governor. The available summaries do not provide much detail beyond that, so it is unclear what the numbers show or how they affect his campaign. Other recent items mention broader Oklahoma political developments, but they do not add specific new information about Walters.
en.wikipedia.org+52
Latest Polls
Oklahoma Republican Governor nominee?
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Ryan Walters currently averages 11.3%, ranking second in this race, 30.7 points behind the next candidate.
Polling average: 11.3%Position: secondMargin: -30.7 ptsLatest poll: 8.0% (Aug 4 - 10)Polls included: 3
Average recalculated from polls through Aug 4 - 10.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising