Trump-backed Mazzei wins GOP primary runoff in Oklahoma governor race
Oklahoma’s GOP primary runoff for governor was won by former budget Secretary mike Mazzei, who narrowly defeated Attorney General Gentner Drummond with 50.3% of the vote. Mazzei’s victory reinforces President Trump’s influence, as he was endorsed by Trump and aligned his campaign with the former president’s support. The race centered on key issues such as lowering living costs,reducing property taxes,and promoting fiscal responsibility,with Mazzei emphasizing his experience as budget secretary and his endorsements. Drummond,who previously criticized Trump’s tariffs,campaigned on public safety and economic growth but faced backlash from Trump during the primary. The contest reflected a broader ideological divide within Republican voters,with Mazzei positioned as the MAGA candidate and Drummond representing a more traditional conservative stance. Mazzei is set to face Democrat Cyndi Munson in the November general election, in a race deemed “solid Republican” by the Cook Political Report, favoring the GOP candidate in a state Trump carried comfortably in 2024.
Former Oklahoma Budget Secretary Mike Mazzei defeated state Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the GOP primary runoff to determine the Republican nominee for Oklahoma governor on Tuesday.
Mazzei pulled out the GOP runoff win with 50.3% of the vote compared to Drummond’s 49.7%, according to the Associated Press on Tuesday evening. Mazzei’s victory notches another win for President Donald Trump‘s endorsement power, as Mazzei joins Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) as the latest Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate to win their primary in a midterm election season that has shown mixed results for the president’s endorsement in gubernatorial races.
Recommended Stories
The flash point of the race centered on Drummond distancing himself from Trump’s tariff agenda, while Mazzei tied himself to the president’s endorsement as the two candidates polled neck and neck in the limited runoff surveys.
After criticizing Trump’s tariffs over the course of the primary, Drummond drew intense scrutiny from the president, who called him a “FAKE Republican” who has “a bad attitude” and “doesn’t stand for the Values of Oklahoma.”
“I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far,” Drummond told NewsNation days before the primary.
Mazzei, on the other hand, touted his endorsements from Trump, the Oklahoma GOP, and term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) as he aimed to compete with the statewide name recognition Drummond had as attorney general.
Each of the Republicans ran on lowering the cost of living, in line with the GOP’s affordability messaging sweeping through the midterm elections, as they both advocated slashing property taxes and reining in government spending to cut costs for Oklahomans.
Mazzei campaigned on priorities like eliminating the state’s property tax for veterans and seniors, curbing foreign land ownership in the state, education reform, opposing abortion, and cutting regulations facing small-business owners. Mazzei touted his time as budget secretary as experience that would help him lead a more fiscally responsible state government.
After his top priority of lowering the cost of living, Drummond ran on his public safety record as attorney general, seeking to bring more enforcement against drug trafficking and cartel crime while strengthening local law enforcement. He also campaigned on spurring state economic growth, fixing rural infrastructure, and expanding affordable healthcare access across the state.
OKLAHOMA PRIMARY SETS MAGA CANDIDATE AGAINST ANTI-TARIFF CONSERVATIVE
Mazzei is now set to face off against Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson in the general election in November.
The Cook Political Report considers the governor race “solid Republican” in the state Trump won by an over 34-percentage-point margin in 2024.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
