Mike Mazzei

Mazzei earned a bachelor’s degree in government and politics from George Mason University and also attended the College of Financial Planning.⁠[1]

Mazzei has said he founded the financial planning firm Trinity Strategic Wealth from scratch in 1996, and that the firm manages more than $1.5 billion in assets.⁠[2]

He is a certified financial planner and founded and served as president of The Financial Coach, Inc.⁠[3][1]

In 2004 Mazzei, a Republican from Tulsa, was elected to represent Senate District 25 in the Oklahoma Senate and served the maximum 12 years before reaching his term limit in 2016.⁠[4][3]

He chaired the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees tax policy, in the 2009–2010, 2013–2014 and 2015 sessions, and in 2011 he chaired the Task Force on Comprehensive Tax Reform.⁠[1][3]

In the Senate he pushed for tax cuts and pension reform and worked to reduce tax credits.⁠[5]

In December 2018 Governor-elect Kevin Stitt announced plans to hire Mazzei for the newly created post of secretary of budget, responsible for preparing the governor’s annual budget and working with lawmakers to carry it out; the appointment required Senate confirmation.⁠[3]

On October 12, 2020, Stitt announced that he had accepted Mazzei’s resignation as secretary of budget, effective October 23. Mazzei said at the time that “this is the right moment for me to step back and return to my financial planning company.”⁠[4]

Mazzei entered the 2021 race for Oklahoma state treasurer and later dropped out because of a conflict with his employer.⁠[5]

In March 2025 Mazzei filed paperwork with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to run for governor in 2026, when Governor Stitt was term-limited. The Republican field also included Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former House Speaker Charles McCall and Leisa Mitchell Haynes.⁠[5]

In May 2026 Donald Trump endorsed Mazzei, and he reaffirmed the endorsement before the runoff; Governor Stitt also endorsed Mazzei.⁠[6]

In the nine-candidate Republican primary on June 16, Drummond received 26.3 percent and Mazzei 26.0 percent, sending both to a runoff.⁠[1][6]

In the August 25 runoff Mazzei defeated Drummond 50.3 percent to 49.7 percent to win the Republican nomination for governor. He funded his campaign mainly through personal loans of at least $11.9 million. After the win, Mazzei thanked Trump for “helping us across the finish line.”⁠[1][6]

In the November 3, 2026, gubernatorial election Mazzei faced Democrat Cyndi MunsonCyndi MunsonCyndi Munson is an American Democratic politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2015 and as its minority leader. She was the first Asian-American woman elected to the Oklahoma Legislature and was the Democratic nominee in the 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial election.Open the full entry, the Oklahoma House minority leader, and three independent candidates. The Associated Press projected Mazzei the winner.⁠[7]

Mazzei declared victory at 10:20 p.m. on election night, and Munson conceded in a speech at 10:45 p.m. The results are to be certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board, and Mazzei is to be sworn in as governor in 2027.⁠[8]

Mazzei has said his priorities include cutting the state income tax, literacy, health care, insurance costs, infrastructure and government spending.⁠[8]

Mike Mazzei campaign: Official website: https://mikeforok.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[9]

X: Public account: https://x.com/MazzeiMike (opens in a new window).⁠[9]