Oklahoma native throws hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor

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You've already heard the big names who've thrown their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor.

Jessica Schambach Anchor Meet the third candidate to throw their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor

You've already heard the big names who've thrown their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor.

SHE DESERVES YOUR VOTE. AND BY THIRD GRADE, GOD TOLD ME I WOULD BE A GOVERNOR. THIS IS LISA MITCHELL HAINES, A BORN AND RAISED OKLAHOMAN WHO WAS DECIDED TO PUT HER NAME IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE FOR 2026. SHE SAYS SHE'S WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR SINCE SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL GROWING UP IN STILLWATER, AND SAYS WHILE HER LIFE PATH SENT HER TOWARD OTHER ACTS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, SHE IS NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN AND BELIEVES THAT'S WHAT OKLAHOMANS WANT IN LEADERSHIP. WELL, I HAVE NOT HELD OFFICE, SO I'M NOT A CAREER POLITICIAN. I'M NOT FAMOUS. I'M JUST LIKE YOU AND ME. YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE. AND I'M WORKING HARD. I'M GOING OUT AND I'M TALKING TO ALL THE PEOPLE AND ALL THESE OTHER CITIES AND ALL OF THESE CITIES THAT ARE NOT IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IN OKLAHOMA. MITCHELL HAINES SAYS SHE UNDERSTANDS THE FRUSTRATION, SAYING, OUR STATE'S EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR HER AND THAT POLITICS HAS PLAYED TOO MUCH OF A ROLE IN THE CLASSROOM. I'M AFRAID IT MAKES THE TEACHERS THINK THEY'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB, AND THEY ARE. IT MAKES THE STUDENTS THINK THEY'RE NOT GETTING A GOOD EDUCATION. AND THEY ARE. I HAVE A PLAN FOR EDUCATION THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE. MITCHELL HAINES SAYS SHE WANTS TO SEND TEACHERS TO THE NUMBER ONE RANKED STATE IN EDUCATION, NEW JERSEY, TAKE NOTES FROM WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE CLASSROOMS AND BRING THAT KNOWLEDGE BACK TO OKLAHOMA. SHE ALSO SAYS WHILE CAMPAIGNING, OKLAHOMANS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE CURRENT GOVERNOR, KEVIN STITT, INCLUDING A DROP IN EDUCATION, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE INABILITY TO HIRE STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES LIKE HIGHWAY PATROLMEN AND GAME WARDENS, BUT THAT SHE WANTS VOTERS TO KNOW IF ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, SHE WILL WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. WHY HAVEN'T WE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE PEOPLE? IS IT BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING MONEY FROM THE PACS AND THE LOBBYISTS, AND THEY'VE FORGOTTEN WHO THEY WERE HIRED BY? I WILL NOT TAKE ANY BRIBES, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO BE DOING THE RIGHT THING EVERY TIME. WHILE THE PRIMARY ELECTION ISN'T FOR ANOTHER 16 MONTHS, THERE ARE ONLY THREE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE SO FAR. MORE CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO BE NAMED LATER I Advertisement Meet the third candidate to throw their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor

You've already heard the big names who've thrown their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor.

Jessica Schambach Anchor You've already heard the big names who've thrown their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5's YouTube channelOklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former House Speaker Charles McCall are well-known throughout the state.But there's a third candidate in the race who hasn't received as much attention.So, KOCO 5 wanted to meet her.Leisa Mitchell Haynes, an Oklahoma native and former city manager in New Mexico, explained why she deserves your vote next year."And by third grade, God told me I'd be a governor," Mitchell Haynes said.Mitchell Haynes decided to put her name in the gubernatorial race for 2026.She said she's wanted to be governor since she was a little girl, growing up in Stillwater. She said while her life path sent her toward other acts of public service, she is not a career politician and believes that's what Oklahomans want in leadership."Well, I have not held office, so I'm not a career politician. I'm not famous, I'm just like you and me. You and everybody else, and I'm working hard. I'm going out, and I'm talking to all the people in all these other cities. All of these cities that are not in Oklahoma City and Tulsa don't feel like they're in Oklahoma, which is terrible. I'm going to tell you that I'm going to be in every city. I'm going to make sure they feel like they're included," Mitchell Haynes said. Mitchell Haynes said she understands the frustration, saying out state's education is a top priority for her and that politics has played too much of a role in the classroom."I'm afraid it makes our teachers think they're not doing a good job, and they are. It makes the students feel like they're not getting a good education, and they are," she said. "I have a plan for education that's never been done."Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Mitchell Haynes said she wants to send teachers to the No. 1 ranked state in education, New Jersey, to take notes from what they're doing in the classrooms and bring that knowledge back to Oklahoma.She also says that while campaigning, Oklahomans have expressed their frustrations with Gov. Kevin Stitt, including a drop in education, poor infrastructure, and the inability to hire state and local employees like highway patrolmen and game wardens. But she wants voters to know if elected by the people, she will work for the people."Why haven't we been doing this for the people? Is it because they're getting money from PACs and lobbyists, and they forgot who they were hired by?" she said. "I will not take any bribes, and you can count on me to be doing the right thing every time."And while the primary election isn't for another 16 months, there are only three candidates in the race so far.More candidates are expected to be named later in the year.Top HeadlinesThree-alarm fire destroys building at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex2025 Oscars predictions: Who will take home a prize in all 23 categories at the 97th Academy AwardsZelensky leaves White House after Trump cuts short talks following tense meetingSuspect found dead after overnight standoff at Yukon homeGene Hackman and his wife were found dead in their home. Here's what we know

You've already heard the big names who've thrown their hat in the ring to be Oklahoma's next governor.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former House Speaker Charles McCall are well-known throughout the state.

But there's a third candidate in the race who hasn't received as much attention.

So, KOCO 5 wanted to meet her.

Leisa Mitchell Haynes, an Oklahoma native and former city manager in New Mexico, explained why she deserves your vote next year.

"And by third grade, God told me I'd be a governor," Mitchell Haynes said.

Mitchell Haynes decided to put her name in the gubernatorial race for 2026.

She said she's wanted to be governor since she was a little girl, growing up in Stillwater. She said while her life path sent her toward other acts of public service, she is not a career politician and believes that's what Oklahomans want in leadership.

"Well, I have not held office, so I'm not a career politician. I'm not famous, I'm just like you and me. You and everybody else, and I'm working hard. I'm going out, and I'm talking to all the people in all these other cities. All of these cities that are not in Oklahoma City and Tulsa don't feel like they're in Oklahoma, which is terrible. I'm going to tell you that I'm going to be in every city. I'm going to make sure they feel like they're included," Mitchell Haynes said.

Mitchell Haynes said she understands the frustration, saying out state's education is a top priority for her and that politics has played too much of a role in the classroom.

"I'm afraid it makes our teachers think they're not doing a good job, and they are. It makes the students feel like they're not getting a good education, and they are," she said. "I have a plan for education that's never been done."

Mitchell Haynes said she wants to send teachers to the No. 1 ranked state in education, New Jersey, to take notes from what they're doing in the classrooms and bring that knowledge back to Oklahoma.

She also says that while campaigning, Oklahomans have expressed their frustrations with Gov. Kevin Stitt, including a drop in education, poor infrastructure, and the inability to hire state and local employees like highway patrolmen and game wardens. But she wants voters to know if elected by the people, she will work for the people.

"Why haven't we been doing this for the people? Is it because they're getting money from PACs and lobbyists, and they forgot who they were hired by?" she said. "I will not take any bribes, and you can count on me to be doing the right thing every time."

And while the primary election isn't for another 16 months, there are only three candidates in the race so far.

More candidates are expected to be named later in the year.