Oklahoma voters will decide on State Question 832 in a special election on June 16, 2026, coinciding with the state's primary elections for federal, state, and local offices. The ballot measure would increase the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $12 in 2027, $13.50 in 2028, and $15 in 2029, with annual cost-of-living adjustments thereafter.
Oklahoma’s current minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009, matching the federal minimum but falling below the national average state minimum wage of $11.51, according to Ballotpedia. The Economic Policy Institute estimated the proposed increase would raise wages for 357,700 workers—about one-fifth of the state’s wage-earning workforce—and boost affected full-time, year-round workers’ annual pay by an average of $2,322, amounting to more than $783 million in total added earnings.
Supporters argue the measure addresses affordability concerns across party lines. "I think it's an issue that transcends party lines. Affordability is a big issue that both Republicans and Democrats are concerned about. It hits the pocketbook," said Alice Jump, partner at law firm Reavis Page Jump. Amber England, a spokesperson for Raise the Wage Oklahoma, a non-partisan grassroots organization advocating for the measure, said, "I remain hopeful that we will be successful on election night and prove everyone wrong who thought it couldn't be done."
Republican Governor Kevin Stitt called the proposal "Terrible policy. Government doesn't need to get involved in private business and say, 'Hey, you need to pay him this and this.' The bigger issue with the state question is it also mandatorily climbs. It goes up every single year. If you look out over 10 years, we're going to have higher mandatory minimum wage than they have in California. That is going to destroy some of the small businesses, right?"
The National Federation of Independent Business has run a statewide campaign urging a no vote, arguing the measure would raise prices, eliminate jobs, and harm small businesses and family farms.