Trump-backed candidate wins primary for Oklahoma governor

Former state Senator Mike Mazzei triumphed in Oklahoma's Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, receiving crucial support from President Donald Trump, a substantial personal loan, and substantial outside funding. His victory over Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond marks a triumph for Republican leaders in the state and for Trump, who had recently suffered a series of primary losses, particularly in gubernatorial races.

Previous Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidates in Wyoming, Iowa, Georgia, Minnesota, and South Carolina had all lost their respective races. Earlier this month, three Trump-backed House candidates also lost in Michigan and Florida. Trump endorsed Mazzei in May, prior to the state's open primary, yet the race remained competitive.

Drummond edged out Mazzei by 0.3 percentage points in the initial round on June 16, necessitating a runoff on Tuesday. The race was characterized by significant self-funding, with Mazzei lending his campaign $11.6 million and Drummond himself contributing $3 million, according to campaign finance records. However, Mazzei also benefited from outside contributions: the conservative group Club For Growth spent $8 million on television ads supporting Mazzei and criticizing Drummond, according to the tracking firm AdImpact.

Prior to the runoff, Mazzei received endorsements from Governor Kevin Stitt and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who had represented Oklahoma in Congress for 13 years. As a state senator for 12 years before term limits in 2016, Mazzei joined Stitt's administration as budget secretary for a year in 2019. With a clear path to victory in the general election against Democratic state Representative Cyndi Munson, Mazzei is the clear favorite in a state Trump won by 34 points in 2024.