Trump-backed candidate sparks runoff against popular prosecutor in key gubernatorial race

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Trump-endorsed former Oklahoma state Sen. Mike Mazzei, R-Bixby, and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond advanced to the August 25 runoff in the Sooner State’s Republican gubernatorial primary, defeating a slew of other candidates vying to replace term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Stitt — recently the top Republican at the National Governors Association — was term limited.

Trump called Mazzei a “MAGA warrior” who “will never let you down,” throwing the already crowded contest into further uncertainty.

Until that point, Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Mazzei were locked in a tight race with businessman Chip Keating and former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Tishomingo.

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President Donald Trump speaking at a podium during an event.

Trump noted he “won big” in Oklahoma — which, along with West Virginia, is one of only two states with no blue counties in election results.

Mazzei is running on top issues, including eliminating state property taxes, protecting state lands from foreign purchasers, increasing the state’s literacy rate, and cutting waste and abuse from government.

In the latter regard, Stitt appointed Mazzei as his state budget director for part of his term.

Some critics targeted Mazzei for hiring former Nixon campaign figure and Trump ally Roger Stone as a political consultant during his campaign.

Stone, one of the most prolific conservative consultants of the 20th century, famously had his Fort Lauderdale home raided in the middle of the night by the FBI while CNN was waiting and filming, sparking national uproar.

“Roger Stone is one of many political advisers and teammates that we have going back months and months and months,” Mazzei told Oklahoma City’s ABC affiliate.

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“And, of course, it’s helpful to have someone on your team that’s aware of what’s going on in Washington, D.C. And the aspects of a Trump agenda and how they fit with an Oklahoma agenda.”

Drummond is running on his tough-on-crime record as attorney general, immigration enforcement efforts, career as a fighter pilot and ties to Trump similar to those touted by Mazzei.

“When his nation called, Captain Gentner Drummond answered with courage. Leading the first U.S. combat mission of the Gulf War, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “extraordinary achievement.” By the end of Operation Desert Storm, Capt. Drummond was one of the most highly decorated Oklahomans of the war,” a statement on his campaign website reads.

Drummond highlighted his efforts fighting “the Biden administration’s radical overreach, including failures on immigration” and policies permitting biological boys in girls’ sports.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond walking into a hearing room.

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McCall ran on a platform of “family, faith and moral leadership,” and burnished his state legislature credentials and record.

He wants to abolish both the state income tax and property tax, and put forward an economically conservative plan of action.

Keating, who also served in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, noted on his campaign website he is the only former law enforcement officer running for governor.

Keating pushed a public safety-first platform targeting trafficking, open borders and Antifa, whom he described as “radical domestic terrorists.”

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