<p>Former Oklahoma Budget Secretary Mike Mazzei defeated state Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the GOP primary runoff to determine the Republican nominee for Oklahoma governor on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Mazzei secured the GOP runoff victory with 50.3% of the vote compared to Drummond’s 49.7%, according to the Associated Press on Tuesday evening. Mazzei’s win is noted as another success for President Donald Trump’s endorsement, as Mazzei joins Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) as a Trump-backed gubernatorial candidate to win their primary in a midterm election season that has shown mixed results for the president’s endorsements in gubernatorial races.</p>
<p>The race highlighted Drummond’s efforts to distance himself from Trump’s tariff agenda, while Mazzei aligned himself with the president’s endorsement as both candidates polled closely in the limited runoff surveys.</p>
<p>Drummond faced criticism from Trump, who labeled him a “FAKE Republican” with a “bad attitude” who “doesn’t stand for the Values of Oklahoma.”</p>
<p>Drummond stated, “I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far,” in remarks made to NewsNation days before the primary.</p>
<p>Mazzei emphasized his endorsements from Trump, the Oklahoma GOP, and term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) as he sought to compete with Drummond’s statewide name recognition as attorney general.</p>
<p>Both Republicans campaigned on lowering the cost of living, consistent with the GOP’s affordability messaging in the midterm elections, advocating for reduced property taxes and government spending to alleviate costs for Oklahomans.</p>
<p>Mazzei’s campaign focused on eliminating the state’s property tax for veterans and seniors, curbing foreign land ownership, education reform, opposing abortion, and reducing regulations on small businesses. He highlighted his experience as budget secretary as a qualification for leading a fiscally responsible state government.</p>
<p>Drummond, after prioritizing the cost of living, emphasized his public safety record as attorney general, aiming to enhance enforcement against drug trafficking and cartel crime while supporting local law enforcement. He also focused on promoting economic growth, improving rural infrastructure, and expanding access to affordable healthcare across the state.</p>
<p>Mazzei is now set to compete against Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson in the general election in November.</p>
<p>The Cook Political Report categorizes the governor race as “solid Republican” in a state Trump won by over a 34-percentage-point margin in 2024.</p>