Munson grew up in Lawton. She is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and a South Korean immigrant. Her family faced financial hardship and she has often spoken about moving from place to place because money was tight. She wants to be seen as someone who understands the financial instability many families face in Oklahoma.
Her rise in Oklahoma politics has been steady. She was elected to the Oklahoma House in 2015 and later became one of the top Democrats in the Legislature. Over time she built a reputation as one of the most visible Democratic voices at the Capitol.
Before politics Cyndi Munson spent more than a decade working in different Oklahoma nonprofits. She spent five years with Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma helping support leadership programs for girls in low income schools juvenile detention centers and public housing.
She later worked for the OK Messages Project a nonprofit focused on helping children stay connected to incarcerated parents through shared reading. Her background also includes earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Central Oklahoma studying nonprofit and voluntary services at Georgetown University and earning a master’s degree in leadership education from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Despite her extensive experience in leadership and administration she has made it clear that she is not a typical candidate for governor. She has spoken openly about renting her home paying student loans and working for a living.
Her campaign message is built around issues that are easy to understand: better schools support for teachers tax relief for working families and making life more affordable. She is trying to speak to voters who may be tired of political theater and more concerned about whether they can afford groceries rent and child care.
Oklahoma is a deeply Republican state and Democrats have struggled for years to win statewide races. Munson wants to do something no Democrat has done in Oklahoma in years: win the governor’s office. Do you think she can pull it off?
