Leisa Mitchell Haynes recalls God told her in the third grade in Stillwater that she would be a governor.
The Republican said she didn’t start campaigning for the job, though, until 50 years later after speaking with an angel at Walmart in Choctaw in 2023.
She is one of five Oklahomans who already are running for office in 2026 .
Haynes, state Treasurer Todd Russ, two district attorneys and the president of Young Democrats of Oklahoma have registered with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to raise money.
Haynes, 60, is the former city manager of Rios Communities, New Mexico. She lives in Choctaw and said she now manages real estate properties.
She has been a candidate before, running unsuccessfully for Oklahoma County clerk and Harrah mayor. On her current campaign, she reported spending $1,600 of her own money on the design of her website, $1,649 on flyers and $900 on hotel stays.
Her potential opponents in the GOP primary election for governor include Attorney General Gentner Drummond, U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Each would get significant financial support from donors, and Drummond may put millions of dollars of his own money into the race, as well.