Gentner Drummond and Mike Mazzei advanced to a Republican runoff for Oklahoma governor after neither won a majority in a nine-candidate primary. Mazzei lent nearly $7 million to his campaign and received a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Drummond, the state attorney general, has invested smaller personal loans and recently sued to block a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter over environmental and agricultural concerns. The runoff underscores heavy self-funding and sharp debates over taxes, education and tribal relations in a reliably Republican state.
Drummond and Mazzei Head to GOP Runoff in Oklahoma After Trump Endorsement and Heavy Self‑Funding
Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei. (Bryan Terry / The Oklahoman / USA Today Network via Imagn file)(Bryan Terry)
State Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei will face off in a Republican runoff for Oklahoma governor after neither secured a majority in a nine-candidate primary, NBC News projects.
Race Results and Next Steps
In a crowded GOP field, Drummond and Mazzei finished as the top two vote-getters, each with roughly a quarter of the vote. Because no candidate received a majority, the nomination will be decided in a runoff between the two.
High-Profile Endorsement
Mazzei drew national attention when former President Donald Trump endorsed him on Truth Social shortly before the primary. Trump wrote:
"It is my great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior, Mike Mazzei, who is running for Governor of Oklahoma, a state which I love, and WON BIG."
Campaign Finance
Money played a major role in the primary. Mazzei largely self-financed his bid, lending nearly $7 million to his campaign from a total haul that exceeds $11 million. Drummond started with much smaller personal contributions — a $2 million loan in April and an additional $500,000 in late May — and has reported more than $340,000 in individual donations and about $12,000 from PACs since April. Combined, Republican candidates for governor lent or gave themselves more than $22 million for the primary, according to Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. (Nick Oxford for NBC News)(Nick Oxford for NBC News)
Profiles and Key Issues
Mike Mazzei is a former state senator and financial planner who ran on a platform that includes eliminating the state income tax, expanding property tax relief for seniors and veterans, and launching a statewide literacy initiative.
Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma's attorney general, is an attorney, rancher and Air Force veteran from Hominy. As AG he recently sued to block a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter project, saying the project could damage the environment and the state's agricultural economy. Drummond has also pushed back against efforts within his party to introduce religious instruction into public schools and has criticized Gov. Kevin Stitt's approach to relations with Indigenous tribes.
Political Context
Incumbent Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, is barred from seeking another term by term limits. Oklahoma has been reliably Republican in recent presidential elections: Donald Trump won every county in the state in three consecutive contests, and the GOP has carried Oklahoma in every presidential race since 1968.
What to Watch: The runoff will test whether Mazzei’s national endorsement and deep personal spending outweigh Drummond’s statewide office experience and issue-focused messaging on environment, education and tribal relations.
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