by: Matt Frendewey, vice president of strategy
Oklahoma Republicans are united around one message: expand education freedom and reward lawmakers who support school choice.
The latest poll from yes. every kid. foundation. shows overwhelming support for giving families more control, and it’s reshaping the GOP gubernatorial race.
Key dynamics:
- Education freedom is a defining issue. 87% of likely 2026 GOP primary voters support it, and 67% view Oklahoma’s tax credit program favorably.
- Momentum favors expansion. 64% of voters support eliminating the cap that limits participation to roughly 5% of students.
- Political reward is clear. 56% say they’d be more likely to back a candidate who supports removing the cap.
- Drummond and McCall tied 22—22 among likely GOP primary voters
- Drummond – 22%
- McCall – 22%
- Keating – 7%
- Merrick – 2%
- Mazzei – 2%
- Undecided – 44%
The big picture:
Speaker Charles McCall’s early strength in a wide-open primary likely reflects his record as a leading voice for education freedom. His work advancing the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program aligns squarely with what Republican voters say they want next: remove the cap and open access to every family.
Critically, voters most supportive of expanding education freedom, including those who favor the tax credit program and those who want the cap removed, are squarely supporters of McCall. Meanwhile, voters least supportive of school choice and who want to keep the cap in place support Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
In a primary where education freedom is the dominant issue, that contrast helps explain why McCall has surged into a neck-and-neck race as a first-time statewide candidate.
Why it matters:
Education freedom has become a threshold issue for Republican candidates. Those seen as champions for parents—not defenders of bureaucracy—stand to gain. McCall’s early traction suggests that voters are rewarding leadership that puts families first and follows through on expanding opportunity.
What we’re saying:
“Education freedom isn’t just reshaping how families access learning; it’s reshaping Oklahoma politics,” said Matt Frendewey, vice president of strategy at yes. every kid. “Republican voters are rewarding leaders like Speaker McCall who deliver real results for parents and keep pushing to finish the job.”
Bottom line:
This poll confirms what we’re seeing across the country: education freedom isn’t just good policy—it’s good politics.
The poll was conducted by yes. every kid. foundation. Read the survey details here.
