Trump-backed Mike Mazzei wins the GOP nomination in the Oklahoma governor’s race - NBC News
Mike Mazzei won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma governor after receiving a key endorsement from Donald Trump. Mazzei defeated Gentner Drummond in a tight runoff race that centered on economic development and loyalty to the former president.
Why it matters
The race demonstrates the continued influence of Donald Trump's endorsements in state-level GOP primaries and the impact of personal political rivalries on local policy.
Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei has secured the Republican nomination for governor in Oklahoma, NBC News projects, a victory for President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate. Mazzei narrowly defeated state Attorney General Gentner Drummond by about 2,000 votes in the GOP primary runoff. The initial June primary was also tight. Drummond finished in first place by just more than 1,000 votes over Mazzei. Since no candidate in the crowded field secured a majority, the race went to a runoff. In the weeks leading up to the runoff, Drummond outraised and outspent Mazzei, with his campaign reporting last week that he brought in $2.3 million between the mid-June primary and Tuesday’s runoff. Mazzei, in the same time period, raised $816,000. Both candidates have also loaned their campaigns significant sums: $11 million for Mazzei and $3 million for Drummond.
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