Mazzei thanks Trump for his support, clinches Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial nomination

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bolstered by an endorsement from President Donald Trump and millions of his own money, Mike Mazzei on Tuesday narrowly secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination. 

The Tulsa financial planner beat Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Tuesday night by about 2,000 votes in a race that drew about 371,000 voters.

In a speech to supporters, Mazzei said he is “so very grateful and honored” to be the official Republican nominee.

“If you had told me 10 years ago that today I would be standing in front of you as the Republican nominee for governor, I would have never believed you,” he said. “God can do impossible things when you put your trust in Him and you never give up.”

Mazzei thanked Trump for “helping us across the finish line.” He said the president held a call on his behalf Monday that drew 38,000 Republicans.

He said after celebrating Tuesday night, he’ll focus on his plans to create more growth and opportunity for Oklahomans’ children and grandchildren by abolishing the income tax and ending property taxes for seniors and veterans.

Mazzei will face Democrat Cyndi Munson, who serves as state House minority leader, and three independents in the Nov. 3 general election.

Drummond told supporters at his Oklahoma City watch party that the voters had spoken and he respected their decision.

“We fought hard,” Drummond said. “We told the truth. We stood up for what we believed in.”

Drummond significantly outraised Mazzei in combined individual and political action committee donations and loaned himself $3 million, according to campaign finance reports.

Mazzei loaned himself about $11.6 million, according to campaign finance reports.

Mazzei secured Trump’s nomination in midsummer, which propelled him to a second-place finish in June’s primary. 

He widely campaigned on the endorsement of the president, who won all 77 Oklahoma counties in the last three elections.

Drummond, an attorney and banker, campaigned on his rural roots as a Hominy rancher, a fighter pilot and successes as the state’s attorney general. Drummond jumped out early as a gubernatorial candidate.

A proposed Inola smelter, backed by Trump, became a  pivotal issue in the campaign. Mazzei initially opposed it and then changed his position hours before obtaining the Trump endorsement. Drummond opposed it.

Days before the primary runoff, Mazzei also secured the endorsement of the Oklahoma Republican Party in a move that was unprecedented and shocked and upset some party stalwarts.

Drummond and Mazzei were the top vote getters in a nine-way June 16 primary that also featured businessman Chip Keating and former House Speaker Charles McCall.

But neither Drummond nor Mazzei secured enough votes on June 16 to avoid a runoff.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is serving the final year of his second term due to term limits.