State Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei will meet in a runoff for the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma, NBC News projects, after no candidate received majority support in Tuesday's primary election.
Drummond and Mazzei finished in the top two spots among nine GOP candidates, with both receiving approximately a quarter of the vote. Drummond has previously won statewide office as attorney general, while Mazzei secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump on Truth Social just over two weeks before primary day. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is unable to seek another term due to term limits after being elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
What the Left Is Saying
Oklahoma's Democratic Party has not yet announced a nominee for governor, but state Democrats have criticized what they characterize as a Republican primary defined by wealthy candidates self-funding their campaigns. The party has pointed to the more than $22 million that Republican candidates collectively gave or lent themselves for the primary campaign.
Progressives in Oklahoma have also noted Drummond's recent legal actions against a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter project, with some environmental advocates welcoming his stance while others argue he should have pursued such litigation sooner. The party's position on tribal relations under Stitt has been a point of contention that Democrats may seek to exploit in the general election.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump's endorsement of Mazzei described him as a "MAGA Warrior" running for governor of "a state which I love, and WON BIG." The former president's backing provided a significant boost in the final weeks before the primary.
Conservative Republicans have praised Drummond's record as attorney general, particularly his pushback against what he viewed as overreach by party leadership on religious matters in schools. Supporters highlight his background as an Air Force veteran, rancher and banker from a prominent Oklahoma family. The state's reliably Republican voting patterns, with Trump winning every county three times consecutively and the GOP carrying Oklahoma in every presidential election since 1968, provide context for the primary's stakes.
What the Numbers Show
Mazzei lent nearly $7 million to his campaign out of total fundraising exceeding $11 million, making him one of the most self-funded candidates in recent state history. Drummond loaned himself $2 million in April and an additional $500,000 in late May. He raised more than $340,000 in individual contributions since April and $12,000 from political action committees.
Combined, Republican candidates for governor gave or lent themselves more than $22 million for the primary campaign, according to Oklahoma Voice. Nine candidates competed in Tuesday's primary, with Drummond and Mazzei each receiving approximately 25 percent of the vote. Oklahoma has not voted Democratic for president since 1964.
The Bottom Line
The August runoff will determine which Republican faces whoever emerges from the Democratic primary in November. Both finalists bring distinct advantages: Drummond offers established statewide name recognition and executive experience as attorney general, while Mazzei brings personal wealth to fund his campaign and the backing of a popular incumbent president. Oklahoma's deep red political history suggests the eventual GOP nominee will enter the general election as the clear favorite. Voters should watch for any further developments in tribal relations policy and economic proposals as both candidates seek to consolidate Republican support ahead of the runoff.