Topline
Mike Mazzei, a wealth‑management executive backed by former President Donald Trump and a former Oklahoma state senator, captured the Republican nomination for governor after winning a runoff against state Attorney General Gentner Drummond, whom Trump had branded a “fake Republican.”
Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei delivers his closing remarks at a televised debate in Tulsa.
Associated Press
Key Facts
The Associated Press called the race at 11 p.m. ET, with nearly all ballots tallied, showing Mazzei winning 50.3% of the vote versus Drummond’s 49.7%.
Both contenders advanced to the runoff after failing to secure a majority in the June primary; Drummond led with 26.25% while Mazzei trailed slightly at 25.97%.
Mazzei will face Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson in the November general election and is heavily favored in a state that Trump won by more than 34 points in 2024.
In a post on X, Mazzei thanked voters, said he felt honored to be the GOP nominee, and outlined his vision to restore “Oklahoma’s potential.”
He currently serves as chairman and CEO of Trinity Strategic Wealth, a Tulsa‑based wealth‑management firm.
Trump celebrated Mazzei’s victory with a graphic posted on Truth Social that highlighted his endorsement.
What Had Trump Said About The Race?
In a Monday endorsement post, Trump criticized Drummond, labeling him a “FAKE Republican” who had contributed to “SLEEPY Joe Biden.” The remark referred to a $1,000 donation Drummond made to Biden’s 2020 campaign, which he initially said came from his wife and was later refunded. Trump also condemned Drummond’s opposition to a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelting facility in Tulsa that Mazzei supports. As attorney general, Drummond filed an injunction to halt construction while the state reviews the plant’s environmental impact. Trump accused Drummond of trying to “dethrone” what he described as a “magnificent, job‑creating, desperately needed, brand‑new aluminum plant.”
tangent
Before his gubernatorial bid, Mazzei served in the Oklahoma Senate from 2004 to 2016 and later held the role of state Secretary of Budget. Besides Trump’s backing, he also received an endorsement from term‑limited Governor Kevin Stitt, who has also faced Trump’s criticism. Earlier this year, Trump called Stitt a “mediocre (at best!) RINO” after the two disagreed over the White House’s coordination of the National Governors Association meeting in Washington, D.C.
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