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Oklahoma GOP runoff decided
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, with Mazzei winning 50.3% to Drummond’s 49.7% according to the Associated Press.
“Mazzei pulled out the GOP runoff win with 50.3% of the vote compared to Drummond’s 49.7%”
The Hill reported that Trump-backed Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei in Oklahoma clinched GOP nominations in their respective primary runoff races on Tuesday, with Decision Desk HQ showing Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman by nearly 5 percentage points and Mazzei edged out Drummond by about half a point.
AP News said 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, Drummond, and that Trump called Drummond a “FAKE Republican” on Truth Social ahead of the runoff.
NBC News projected Mazzei’s victory by about 2,000 votes over Drummond, and said the initial June primary was also tight with Drummond finishing in first place by just more than 1,000 votes over Mazzei.
The Washington Post said Drummond took a plurality of votes at 26.25% in the June 16 primary while Mazzei came in second at 25.97%, setting up the runoff in a race described as a major test of Trump’s endorsement power.
Trump attacks shape the race
The Washington Examiner said the “flash point of the race centered on Drummond distancing himself from Trump’s tariff agenda,” and quoted Drummond telling NewsNation days before the primary, “I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far.”
In the same contest, AP News reported that Trump reaffirmed his May endorsement of Mazzei and called Drummond a “FAKE Republican” in a Truth Social post ahead of Tuesday’s runoff.
NBC News said Trump praised Mazzei in a Truth Social post while criticizing Drummond, writing, “Drummond is not the right guy. He’s got a bad attitude, and he doesn’t stand for the Values of Oklahoma.”
NBC News also quoted Drummond telling NewsNation that “I think Oklahoma and I are supportive of President Trump and many of his policies,” while adding that “the tariffs are too far, that importing cheap beef only injures Oklahoma’s cattlemen, ranchers and farmers.”
AP News said Mazzei quickly thanked Trump for “helping us across the finish line,” after a Monday evening “telerally” call featuring brief remarks from the president.
Next: general election stakes
Mazzei is now set to face off against Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson in the general election in November, with the Washington Examiner saying the Cook Political Report considers the governor race “solid Republican” in the state Trump won by an over 34-percentage-point margin in 2024.
“The Cook Political Report considers the governor race “solid Republican” in the state Trump won by an over 34-percentage-point margin in 2024”
AP News said Mazzei is favored to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt following his November general election race against Democratic nominee and Oklahoma House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, and noted that a Democrat hasn’t won the governor’s race since 2006.
NBC News said Mazzei will face Democratic state Rep. Cyndi Munson in the general election, and described the governor’s race as heavily favored for Republicans given the state’s deeply Republican voter base.
The Hill reported that the Oklahoma governor’s GOP runoff served as another key test of Trump’s influence in the GOP as several of his gubernatorial and House picks have fallen short in their primaries this cycle, while also noting that a democratic socialist won the Democratic nod for Senate in Oklahoma.
AP News added that Drummond told his supporters, “We do not surrender our convictions,” and said he told Mazzei that “now you have to show up” for groups including working families, farmers, teachers, firefighters and law enforcement.