Trump-Backed Mazzei Narrowly Wins Okla. GOP Gov. Runoff
Context:
In Oklahoma, Mike Mazzei narrowly defeated Gentner Drummond in the Republican gubernatorial runoff after a late surge by President Trump, signaling momentum for Mazzei as he advances to face Democrat Cyndi Munson in November to succeed term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt. The race had leaned toward a tight finish for months, with early polls showing a deadlock and both candidates closely aligned on many issues. Trump intensified his involvement in the final days, questioning Drummond’s values and backing Mazzei as the better fit for Oklahoma. The outcome preserves a high-spending, high-stakes contest within the party leading into the general election, where Mazzei will contend with Munson for the governorship.
Dive Deeper:
Mazzei, a Tulsa businessman and former state senator, narrowly won the runoff against Attorney General Gentner Drummond in a contest with more than 371,000 votes cast; the result followed a June primary where Drummond led Mazzei by a slim margin, triggering the runoff.
Trump endorsed Mazzei in May and escalated his involvement in the closing days, including a late-night telephone rally in which he attacked Drummond and urged support for Mazzei as aligned with Trump’s values for Oklahoma.
The runoff was extraordinarily expensive, with more than $14 million spent on advertising during the runoff period and around $40 million spent prior to the June primary, reflecting intense competition among Republicans.
Mazzei largely financed his campaign himself, while outside groups contributed additional funds, contributing to the record level of spending in the race.
Drummond, who has served as attorney general since 2023 and emphasized respect for the president, argued he would be a leader aligned with Trump but faced a critical endorsement shift when Mazzei gained Trump’s backing.
Following the win, Mazzei will face Democrat Cyndi Munson, the Oklahoma House Minority Leader, in November to fill the seat of term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt, signaling a high-stakes general election in a closely watched state race.