Oklahoma voters are participating in the gubernatorial Republican primary runoff on Tuesday. Mike Mazzei, backed by President Donald Trump, is competing against Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has criticized the president's tariff policies. In the June primary, Mazzei finished less than 1 percentage point behind Drummond. Governor Kevin Stitt, who is term-limited, has endorsed Mazzei, although polls indicate a tight race between the two candidates.
Mazzei has positioned himself as aligned with Trump's Make America Great Again movement, focusing on education reform and tax cuts. Trump is scheduled to join Mazzei in a tele-rally on Monday. Mazzei stated, "We have a clear mission: cut taxes, fix our schools, protect Oklahoma land, defend our freedoms, and bring accountability back to state government."
Drummond, while having greater name recognition, has opposed Trump's tariff agenda, arguing that tariffs harm Oklahoma's agricultural sector. He expressed his views on the matter during an interview with News Nation, stating, "I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far, that importing cheap beef only injures Oklahoma’s cattleman, ranchers, and farmers."
Drummond's stance aligns with many ranchers, and he is seeking their support. Although he does not oppose Trump’s policies outright, he has filed a lawsuit against a planned aluminum smelter supported by Trump. Trump has criticized Drummond, labeling him a "FAKE" Republican due to his opposition to the smelter and a past donation to Joe Biden's campaign. Despite the criticism, Drummond emphasized his agreement with Trump on many issues, noting his successful lawsuits against the Biden administration.