Key facts
- Mike Mazzei won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor.
- Mazzei narrowly defeated Attorney General Gentner Drummond in a runoff primary.
- President Donald Trump endorsed Mazzei and attacked Drummond.
- Mazzei is the founder of an investment management firm and a former state senator.
- Drummond is a rancher, attorney, and former Air Force pilot who was elected attorney general in 2022.
Tulsa businessman Mike Mazzei has won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor, narrowly defeating state Attorney General Gentner Drummond in Tuesday's runoff election. The victory was significantly boosted by President Donald Trump's endorsement and his public criticism of Drummond.
Mazzei and Drummond emerged as the top two candidates from a nine-person field in the initial primary round on June 16, with Drummond holding a slim lead of 0.3 percentage points, or about 1,100 ballots. The race was characterized by substantial self-funding and high campaign expenditures.
Trump, who carried Oklahoma with over 65% of the vote in his presidential races, reaffirmed his endorsement of Mazzei in May and intensified his support in the lead-up to the runoff. He used his Truth Social platform to label Drummond a "FAKE Republican" and criticized his past statements regarding Trump's impeachments. Trump also suggested Mazzei's endorsement was linked to hiring a consulting firm led by Roger Stone, a longtime Trump associate, which received $67,500 from Mazzei's campaign.
Mazzei, 61, is the founder of an investment management firm and previously served 12 years in the state Senate. Drummond, 62, is a rancher, attorney, and former Air Force jet pilot who was elected attorney general in 2022. Both candidates were critical of outgoing Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who endorsed Mazzei.
Mazzei is now favored to win the general election in November against Democratic nominee and Oklahoma House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson. A Democrat has not won the Oklahoma governor's race since 2006.