Former state Senator Mike Mazzei has clinched the Republican nomination for governor in Oklahoma, as projected by NBC News. This marks a victory for President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate.
Mazzei narrowly triumphed over state Attorney General Gentner Drummond by approximately 2,000 votes in the GOP primary runoff. The initial primary held in June was similarly close, with Drummond finishing marginally ahead of Mazzei by slightly over 1,000 votes. As no candidate achieved a majority due to the crowded field, the contest proceeded to a runoff.
Despite Drummond’s financial edge in the weeks leading up to the runoff, where he raised $2.3 million between the mid-June primary and the Tuesday runoff, Mazzei secured the nomination after raising $816,000. Furthermore, both candidates made significant personal loans to their campaigns, with Mazzei loaning $11 million and Drummond $3 million.
Trump’s endorsement of Mazzei began in May as part of the race to succeed the term-limited GOP Governor Kevin Stitt. He continued to support the former state lawmaker through various platforms.
In a Truth Social post, Trump praised Mazzei, while criticizing Drummond for allegedly having a poor attitude and failing to represent Oklahoma’s values. The post also highlighted Drummond’s lawsuit to block the construction of a major aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, citing environmental and public health concerns. Trump opposed this stance, expressing his support for the plant that Mazzei endorses, calling it a significant job-producing project.
Drummond further diverged from Trump on the topic of tariffs, disagreeing with the president’s move to waive tariffs on selected beef imports to reduce U.S. beef prices. This decision was not favored by many in Oklahoma, who felt it harmed local cattlemen, ranchers, and farmers, as reflected in Drummond’s statements to NewsNation.
Despite Trump’s endorsement being sought after in GOP political circles, his support has occasionally faltered, especially in gubernatorial races. Five governor candidates backed by Trump have failed to secure their primary victories this year.
With Mazzei’s recent nomination win, he emerges as the prominent candidate in the forthcoming November general election, thanks to Oklahoma’s strong Republican voting base. He will compete against Democratic state Representative Cyndi Munson in the general election.