Tulsa businessman and former state senator Mike Mazzei faces a high‑stakes Republican runoff against Attorney General Gentner Drummond after President Trump renewed his backing and attacked Drummond. The outcome will determine the GOP nominee in a state where Republicans are heavily favored this fall.
President Trump endorsed Mike Mazzei in May and repeated his support on social media, calling Mazzei’s rival a “FAKE Republican.”
Campaign friction included criticism over Mazzei’s payment of $67,500 to a consulting firm run by Roger Stone and public disputes involving outgoing Gov. Kevin Stitt.
# What happened
# Where the race stands In the June 16 primary, Drummond finished first but only narrowly — by about 1,100 ballots out of roughly 403,000 cast. Both he and Mazzei received about 26% of the vote, forcing the runoff that will decide the GOP nominee to replace term‑limited Gov. Kevin Stitt.
The runoff winner will face Democrat Cyndi Munson in November. Democrats have not won the governor's office in Oklahoma since 2006, and Republicans are strongly favored in the general election.
# Who the principal players are
# What drove the runoff dynamics
Drummond, in turn, has suggested Mazzei won Trump's backing after Mazzei paid $67,500 to a consulting firm run by Roger Stone, a longtime Trump associate, according to campaign finance records cited in coverage.
Stitt's endorsement of Mazzei adds another layer. Both Trump and Drummond have criticized Stitt previously — the governor drew Trump's ire earlier in the year related to his role leading the National Governors Association and a dispute over White House invitations.
# Why this matters now The runoff is the most consequential statewide Republican contest in Oklahoma this cycle. Given the state's conservative tilt, the GOP nominee is heavily favored in November, so the runoff effectively determines who will occupy the governor's office for the next term. The campaign also illustrates how national figures and networks — including presidential endorsements and high‑profile consultants — can influence state races.
# Bottom line
Tulsa businessman Mike Mazzei narrowly won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor on Tuesday after getting a boost from President Donald Trump's social media attacks on Mazzei's rival, state Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
Mike Mazzei has won Oklahoma’s Republican nomination for governor, defeating Attorney General Gentner Drummond in a closely fought runoff Tuesday.Mazzei leads Drummond by 2,045 votes with an estimated 99% counted:* Mazzei: 185,542 — 50.3%* Drummond: 183,497 — 49.7%Mazzei, a Tulsa businessman and for
“Former Oklahoma state Sen. Mike Mazzei is projected to win the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor, giving President Donald Trump, who endorsed him, a win in one of his favorite states,” NOTUS reports. New York Times: 5 things to know about Mike Mazzei, Oklahoma GOP candidate for governor.
With the endorsement of President Donald Trump, candidate Mike Mazzei narrowly won Oklahoma’s Republican gubernatorial runoff on Tuesday, defeating the state’s Attorney General Gentner Drummond by 2,020 votes. Mazzei received […] The post Trump-Endorsed Mazzei Wins Tight GOP Gubernatorial Primary in Oklahoma appeared f
"AIR FORCE VETERAN. SMALL BUSINESSMAN. TRUMP CONSERVATIVE."
The curious case of Guren “Bobby” Zhou shows the ease with which investors with shady backgrounds and unknown motivations can funnel money to the president.
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