State Treasurer of Oklahoma · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Oklahoma state treasurer race?
Cindy Byrd has the strongest record in the Oklahoma state treasurer race. Cindy Byrd scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Cindy Byrd's highest marks are courage and relevant experience. Kiefer Perry (2 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Cindy Byrd
63 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 63
Libertarian
Kiefer Perry
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 38
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Cindy Byrd
- On the record2026-03-04
Her Oklahoma Turnpike Authority audit found no egregious wrongdoing but transparency gaps; legislators vowed regulatory action.
Source: NonDoc, March 4, 2026
- On the record2026-04-03
Switched from the lieutenant governor race to challenge incumbent Republican Treasurer Todd Russ on the final filing day.
Source: NonDoc, June 11, 2026
- On the record2022
Epic founders gave $744,500 to a committee that backed her 2022 Republican primary opponent; she won the primary.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
- On the record2021-02
Released an investigative audit of the state Health Department's pandemic purchases after an open records request, over Attorney General John O'Connor's objection.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
- Credit2026-09-29
The National State Auditors Association's external peer review gave her office the highest rating possible.
Source: Southwest Ledger, Sept. 29, 2026
- Credit2020-10-01
Her office's investigative audit of Epic Charter Schools found founders routed millions in state money to their private management firm; state officials estimated $20 million recovered and the founders were later charged.
Sources: The Frontier, Oct. 1, 2020, Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
Kiefer Perry
- On the record2026
Vice chair of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and its nominee for state treasurer.
Source: KOSU, June 10, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Cindy Byrd. Campaign finance reports are on file and were reported in the press (for example $78,293 raised in the first quarter of 2026). No Oklahoma Ethics Commission order naming her was found.
Source: NonDoc, June 11, 2026
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Cindy Byrd. As a Republican auditor, released a 2021 audit of the Stitt administration's Health Department over the Republican attorney general's objection, and kept auditing Epic Charter Schools after its founders funded her 2022 primary opponent.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Cindy Byrd. Releases audit findings at public press conferences and gave interviews in the 2026 primary. No 2026 general election debate or forum record found.
Source: NonDoc, June 11, 2026
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Cindy Byrd. About 28 years in the state auditor's office, including two terms as state auditor and inspector, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Cindy Byrd. Sworn state auditor and inspector since January 2019 with no finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Cindy Byrd. Two terms as elected state auditor and inspector, earlier deputy state auditor; a CPA. Treasurer is a different statewide office, so 3 under E9 (editor may treat it as comparable).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd, Southwest Ledger, Sept. 29, 2026
Kiefer Perry. Documented role is vice chair of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party; no other leadership record found.
Source: KOSU, June 10, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Cindy Byrd. CPA and two-term state auditor; published specific priorities within the treasurer's powers, including refocusing the unclaimed property program and investing for the highest return.
Source: NonDoc, June 11, 2026
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Cindy Byrd. Two channels documented: a campaign platform site and press interviews and conferences. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Cindy Byrd for State Treasurer, home page, Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Cindy Byrd. Grew up in Coalgate and graduated from Coalgate High School and East Central University. In-state share of contributions not available (state filings blocked).
Source: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd
Kiefer Perry. Lives in Broken Arrow. Years of residence and donor data not found.
Source: KOSU, June 10, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Cindy Byrd. Heads the State Auditor and Inspector's Office, the statewide audit agency; its 2026 National State Auditors Association external peer review gave the highest rating possible. Staff size not stated in sources opened.
Source: Southwest Ledger, Sept. 29, 2026
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Cindy Byrd. Her office's 2020 Epic Charter Schools audit found more than $80 million in irregularities; the state sought to recover $20 million and the founders were later charged. Other audits covered the Health Department, turnpike authority and Tulsa schools.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Cindy Byrd, The Frontier, Oct. 1, 2020
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Cindy Byrd. No public record found.
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Cindy Byrd. No public record found.
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Cindy Byrd. No public record found.
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Cindy Byrd. The office she heads received the highest possible rating in its 2026 external peer review by the National State Auditors Association.
Source: Southwest Ledger, Sept. 29, 2026
Kiefer Perry. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Oklahoma state treasurer race?
Cindy Byrd has the strongest record in the Oklahoma state treasurer race. Cindy Byrd scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Cindy Byrd's highest marks are courage and relevant experience. Kiefer Perry (2 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Oklahoma state treasurer race in 2026?
Cindy Byrd (Republican), Kiefer Perry (Libertarian). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Cindy Byrd a good candidate for State Treasurer?
Cindy Byrd scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Kiefer Perry a good candidate for State Treasurer?
Kiefer Perry has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Oklahoma race scored, and the Oklahoma 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.