Well, I think we know why the WWE Secretary of Education lady dodged Ryan Walters like a lazy suplex.
Earlier this week, GOP kingmaker Pat McFerron – a well-known conservative pollster, political consultant, and gerrymanderer for the GOP ruling class – shared his firm’s polling numbers for the 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial race.
The two big takeaways are:
- Gentner Drummond has a commanding lead.
- Ryan Walters is one of the most disliked people in Oklahoma history.
#1 is kind of boring, and the election is still over a year away, but #2 is great and makes me feel all warm and happy like Ryan Walters at a book-burning, and – at least for now – proud to be an Oklahoman.
Check this out:
Recent news exposure has not been helpful for a potential gubernatorial run for Ryan Walters. Not only has his percentage in a Republican primary fallen, but his favorable-to-unfavorable ratio within his own party is as poor as any we have recorded during our more than 30 years of surveying Oklahomans.
Among likely Republican primary voters, Walters now sits at 31% favorable and 44% unfavorable – a net change of 13 points since the 37%-37% we recorded in early May. Perhaps more striking is that 34% of likely Republican primary voters say their impression of him is “strongly unfavorable” and only 15% characterize their opinion as “strongly favorable.” Rural voters have moved dramatically and are now a net negative (29% Favorable / 37% Unfavorable).
That’s awesome!
Sure, most Oklahoman Republicans seem totally fine with siphoning money away from public education and reinvesting in private schools (a.k.a. school choice), but isn’t it nice to know that “we” – a.k.a. the normal people who see through his lies, distractions, and woke teacher tests – can put differences aside and all agree to hate Ryan Walters?
Kumbaya, my lord. Kumbaya.
Well, at least that’s what we’re singing right now.
Although Ryan is performing just as bad in the polls as The Protector did at the American box office, there’s still plenty of time for him to turn around his image, catch a lucky break or two, and force a runoff with Gentner.
Of course, that will require Ryan – who, as we all know, is being unfairly targeted and portrayed by a cabal that includes Governor Stitt, teacher’s unions, and The Liberal Media™ – to actually have the courage to run.
For the last year or so, everyone in political and media circles has assumed Ryan will run for governor, but with him facing major deficits in polling, fundraising, and likability, his team knows the smart move would be to just sit this one out, get out of politics for a bit, make money on the charter school grifter circuit, and then maybe return to Oklahoma and establish a more positive brand and image.
Although that would be a smart move, I just can’t see Ryan doing it. If he is going to stick around and deliver us new content, he basically has two choices:
- Soften his image, tone down the 1930s Germany-style rhetoric, and stop airing 1980s action movie nude scenes during state board meetings.
- Appeal to the GOP MAGA crazies who vote in primaries by doubling down on the right-wing crazy, vitriol, and hate.
I thought we’d maybe get a sneak peek of which path Ryan would take at today’s State Board of Education meeting, but…
Hmmn. I wonder why the meeting was cancelled.
Is he upset by his unfavorability rating? Was he out of town speaking at some Patriot Moms for Liberty Education conference? Was he too busy watching a movie in his office? I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
