NBC News reports that former state Sen. Mike Mazzei has secured the Republican nomination for governor in Oklahoma, a significant development following the contentious GOP primary runoff. The race, which began in June, saw neither candidate secure a majority of the votes, leading to a protracted contest.
Mazzei narrowly defeated state Attorney General Gentner Drummond, a key figure in the Republican primary, after neither candidate secured a majority of the vote in the preliminary June primary. The campaign, heavily influenced by President Donald Trump, has seen a substantial fundraising push, with Mazzei raising $816,000 in the same period compared to Drummond’s $2.3 million, according to campaign reports. Trump has repeatedly lauded Mazzei and criticized Drummond, stating, “Drummond is not the right guy. He’s got a bad attitude, and he doesn’t stand for the Values of Oklahoma, which must VOTE FOR ‘MIKE MAZZEI FOR GOVERNOR,’ on Tuesday, August 25th.”
Drummond also drew the president’s ire for suing to block the construction of the largest aluminum smelter in the country, citing environmental and public health concerns, in Inola, Oklahoma. Drummond argued that the construction would jeopardize the environment and public health, echoing concerns raised by Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate states with large cattle-ranching communities.
Trump’s endorsement of Mazzei has been a prominent element of the race, with the president praising him and criticizing Drummond. In a May post on Truth Social, Trump praised Mazzei and criticized Drummond, noting, “Drummond is not the right guy. He’s got a bad attitude, and he doesn’t stand for the Values of Oklahoma, which must VOTE FOR ‘MIKE MAZZEI FOR GOVERNOR,’ on Tuesday, August 25th.”
Mazzei, on the other hand, supports the construction of the plant. This week, Drummond broke with the president on his decision to waive tariffs on some beef imports to lower beef prices in the U.S., echoing concerns voiced by GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate from states with large cattle-ranching communities. The Republican primary race is considered a key battleground in November’s general election, with Mazzei currently projected to win the state’s deeply Republican voter base.
According to sources, five gubernatorial candidates he has backed this year failed to win their primaries, highlighting the significant challenge facing Trump’s gubernatorial strategy in Oklahoma.
This victory marks a significant shift in the GOP, with Trump’s endorsement continuing to be a central factor in the race, and Mazzei’s emergence as the frontrunner for November’s general election.
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Source: NBC News
