Gentner Drummond, the Oklahoma attorney general, and Mike Mazzei, a wealthy owner of a financial planning firm who won President Trump’s endorsement, will advance to a Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma governor, The Associated Press said on Tuesday.
Mr. Drummond rose to the top of a crowded field that included Charles McCall, the state House speaker; Chip Keating, a former state trooper whose father was Oklahoma governor more than two decades ago; and Jake Merrick, a former state senator and radio host.
But it was Mr. Mazzei, a largely self-financed newcomer, who came in second, just behind Mr. Drummond. Mr. Mazzei focused his messaging on issues like eliminating income taxes and preventing foreign ownership of Oklahoma farmland. Last month Mr. Trump surprised Oklahoma Republicans by plucking him from a field of much bigger names, calling Mr. Mazzei a “MAGA Warrior.”
Mr. Drummond has long eyed the governor’s mansion. During the campaign, he also sought to align himself with Mr. Trump, while also looking to appeal to moderate voters. He promised to be tough on crime and illegal immigration while expanding affordable health care and fixing the state’s poorly performing public schools.
Mr. Drummond has sparred with the outgoing governor, Kevin Stitt, over the years, and sued him during the campaign, accusing him of working with outside political groups opposed to his run.
Polling in the race had shown no clear favorite heading into Tuesday’s vote. Mr. Stitt is barred by term limits from running again.
And it was close, with Mr. Keating coming in third. With no candidate receiving more than 50 percent of the vote on Tuesday, the race will head to a runoff on Aug. 25.
The winner of the Republican primary is expected to prevail in the November general election. Though there are sizable populations of Democrats in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Republicans control all levels of state government in Oklahoma. Mr. Trump won the state in 2024 with a margin of 34 percentage points.
Among the issues in the campaign was the building of a huge $4 billion aluminum smelter in the Tulsa area, a major industrial project heralded by the Trump administration. A company from the United Arab Emirates holds a majority stake in the venture, and has received state and federal incentives.
Mr. Drummond, the attorney general, filed suit this month to block the plant, citing its potential impact on the energy grid and its use of water. Mr. McCall said he opposed the project in its current location, in the town of Inola, east of Tulsa. Mr. Keating also expressed reservations.
Mr. Mazzei initially opposed the project but reversed course and offered his backing on social media. “President Trump is bringing jobs and investment to the USA and I HAVE HIS BACK!” Mr. Mazzei wrote.
That day, Mr. Trump endorsed him.
Mailers later appeared in the race attacking Mr. Mazzei for taking “the Arab handout.”
In addition to raising money from donors, the candidates spent heavily on themselves, with personal loans totaling more than $20 million as of the final week of the race. Mr. Mazzei alone lent his campaign more than $10 million to support his run. He raised only a small fraction of that from individual contributors.
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