Oklahoma primary sets MAGA candidate against anti-tariff conservative
Oklahoma voters are participating in a Republican primary runoff for the state’s gubernatorial race. The candidates are Mike Mazzei, a Trump-backed conservative emphasizing education reform and tax cuts, and Gentner Drummond, the attorney General, who is less known nationally but has opposed Trump’s tariff policies. Stitt,the outgoing governor,endorsed Mazzei,though polls indicate a close contest. Mazzei has aligned himself with Trump’s MAGA movement and will have a tele-rally with Trump. Conversely, Drummond has voiced opposition to tariffs, especially on beef, which has garnered him both support from ranchers and criticism from Trump. Trump has publicly attacked Drummond, calling him a “FAKE” Republican and a “RINO,” due to disagreements over policies and his campaign donations to Biden.Despite the rivalry, Drummond maintains he supports many of Trump’s policies and has a record of successfully challenging federal administrations. The runoff remains highly competitive, with both candidates seeking to succeed term-limited Governor Kevin stitt.
Oklahoma voters are heading to the polls Tuesday for the state’s gubernatorial Republican primary runoff, as President Donald Trump-backed Mike Mazzei takes on Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has spoken out against the president’s tariff agenda.
Mazzei finished less than 1 percentage point behind Drummond in the June primary as both candidates seek to succeed Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK), who is term-limited. Stitt has endorsed Mazzei in the runoff, but endorsements seem to carry little weight as polls show the two candidates in a dead heat.
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In the weeks leading up to the runoff, Mazzei has sought to define himself as aligned with Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, focused on education reform and a wide range of tax cuts. Trump is set to join Mazzei, whom he has called a “MAGA warrior,” in a tele-rally on Monday.
“We have a clear mission: cut taxes, fix our schools, protect Oklahoma land, defend our freedoms, and bring accountability back to state government,” Mazzei said in an X post promoting the tele-rally.
Drummond, on the other hand, holds the edge over Mazzei when it comes to name recognition in the state, but has made himself an enemy of Trump for speaking out against tariffs.
“I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far, that importing cheap beef only injures Oklahoma’s cattleman, ranchers, and farmers,” Drummond told News Nation over the weekend while discussing Trump’s plan to temporarily ease tariffs on beef imports in an effort to bring prices down.
Trump’s plan has met backlash from other Republicans, such as Montana lawmakers Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT), who said efforts to lower costs for families should not be done at the expense of farmers.
Drummond’s opinion on tariffs aligns with that of many ranchers, and he is looking for their support as a rancher himself.
The attorney general hasn’t branded himself as against Trump’s policies, but said he won’t shy away from disagreeing with the president when he feels the policies hurt Oklahomans. As attorney general, Drummond has filed a lawsuit to block a planned aluminum smelter backed by Trump.
The president has blasted Drummond, calling him a “FAKE” Republican, noting his opposition to the aluminum smelter and a campaign donation to former President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. Mazzei has echoed the president’s sentiments, calling Drummond a “RINO,” meaning Republican in name only.
Still, Drummond said he has let Trump’s criticism roll off, emphasizing there are many areas the two agree on.
“I sued, successfully, President Biden’s administration 17 times and won. I have stood with President Trump in every issue,” he told News Nation. “As a matter of fact, he’s had me into the White House twice in the last four months.”
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