Oklahoma governor delays vote on minimum wage hike until 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahomans will vote on gradually increasing the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour but not until 2026, angering supporters who are questioning the timing set by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Stitt signed an executive order this week setting the vote for June 2026, which is the next scheduled statewide general election after November. The governor said in a statement he waited until then, rather than calling a special statewide election, in order to save taxpayers the roughly $1.8 million it would cost for a standalone election.

The minimum wage in Oklahoma is currently $7.25, which mirrors the federal rate, although 34 states, territories and districts currently have wages higher than that, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Supporters of the Yes on State Question 832 campaign turned in nearly 180,000 signatures in less than 90 days back in July, nearly twice as many as the roughly 92,000 signatures of registered votes needed to qualify the question for the ballot.

Amber England, a spokesperson for the campaign, said she doesn’t buy the governor’s argument.

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