Trump Endorses Mike Mazzei in Oklahoma GOP Governor Runoff

President Donald Trump has endorsed Mike Mazzei, a former state senator and budget secretary, in the Republican gubernatorial runoff in Oklahoma. Mazzei has aligned himself closely with Trump and proposed the complete elimination of the state income tax, while labeling his opponent a liberal RINO.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has positioned himself as an independent conservative, citing 17 lawsuits against the Biden administration to bolster his credentials. Drummond has openly criticized Trump's economic policies, specifically arguing that the president is wrong to suspend higher tariffs on ground beef imports, which Drummond claims injures local cattlemen and farmers. He also expressed concern that certain tariffs have gone too far.

Beyond trade, Drummond has clashed with Governor Kevin Stitt and resisted a Trump-backed $4 billion aluminum smelter project near Tulsa. Drummond cited environmental concerns and the influence of Emirates Global Aluminium, a company controlled by the United Arab Emirates, as reasons for his opposition. While Mazzei holds the support of the president and the governor, Drummond is viewed as the favorite in the general election against Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson if he secures the nomination.