Oklahoma governor runoff: Trump-endorsed Mazzei takes on Drummond
Mike Mazzei, a former state senator and budget secretary, is running against Attorney General Gentner Drummond in Oklahoma's Republican gubernatorial runoff. Trump has criticized Drummond as a 'fake Republican' and endorsed Mazzei. Drummond narrowly led Mazzei in the June primary by about 1,100 votes, and the winner is favored in November.
The runoff stems from a crowded June 16 primary in which Drummond edged Mazzei by roughly 1,100 votes, forcing Tuesday's decisive contest. Mazzei previously served in the state Senate and as Oklahoma's budget secretary, while Drummond currently holds the attorney general's office. Trump's endorsement of Mazzei came with sharp attacks on Drummond, whom the former president labeled a "fake Republican" and criticized for declining to take a position on Trump's impeachment proceedings. The victor will succeed term-limited Governor Kevin Stitt and enters the general election as the heavy favorite in a state that reliably votes Republican. Polls closed at 8 p.m. EDT, with Decision Desk HQ tracking results.
This runoff could shape Oklahoma's executive leadership for years, as the Republican nominee is widely expected to win November's general election in the deeply conservative state. The contest also tests Trump's influence over GOP primary voters in a midterm-style environment, potentially signaling how much weight presidential endorsements carry in state-level races. Depending on the outcome, the result may affect state policy priorities on issues like criminal justice and budget management, and could influence how other Republican candidates approach Trump's backing in future primaries.