Mazzei Edges Out Drummond in Oklahoma GOP Runoff, Backed by Trump

Former state Senator Mike Mazzei has won the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma governor, defeating Attorney General Gentner Drummond by a narrow margin. President Trump had endorsed Mazzei and attacked Drummond as a 'fake Republican' in the days before the vote. The victory is a significant boost for Trump, who had seen several of his preferred candidates lose in other states earlier this year.

Mazzei, a financial planner, had narrowly trailed Drummond in the initial primary before Tuesday's runoff, with recent polling indicating a tight contest. His campaign raised roughly $12.5 million, including an $11 million personal loan, while Drummond amassed about $10 million from contributions, loans, and PACs. Drummond's endorsements included the Oklahoma State Fraternal Order of Police, House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, and former University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer. Trump's pre-election attacks on Drummond centered on his opposition to a planned aluminum smelter and a disputed $1,000 contribution to Biden's 2020 campaign, which Drummond said was an erroneous payment by his wife through their joint account and later refunded.