President renews his endorsement as early voting approaches in Oklahoma’s closely divided Republican governor runoff.
OKLAHOMA CITY — President Donald Trump jumped back into Oklahoma’s Republican governor race Tuesday, attacking Attorney General Gentner Drummond and urging voters to support former state Sen. Mike Mazzei.
In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump called Mazzei a “MAGA Warrior” and repeated his “COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement.” He labeled Drummond a “FAKE Republican” who does not reflect Oklahoma values.
The post came one week before the Aug. 25 runoff and two days before early voting begins. A recent Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates poll found the candidates tied at 44%.
Inola remains at the center
Much of Trump’s post focused on the proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter in Inola. He argued that the plant would create jobs, strengthen national security and provide an economic windfall for Oklahoma.
Trump said Drummond had sued unsuccessfully to stop the project. The lawsuit remains pending, and Drummond recently asked a judge to freeze work at the site before Inola’s construction moratorium expires Aug. 28.
Drummond argues that the project poses unacceptable risks to nearby farms, livestock and residents. Trump said Tuesday that the plant is fully financed and warned that its developers could take it elsewhere.
Trump did not mention Mazzei’s earlier opposition to the project.
OK Politics Today previously reported that Mazzei called the proposal a “billion dollar scam” in January and questioned its state incentives during a March debate. He announced his support at 1:28 p.m. May 29. Trump endorsed him at 4:56 p.m. that day.
Mazzei has said Trump personally persuaded him that the smelter was important to national security and domestic aluminum production. No evidence has emerged that the endorsement was conditioned on Mazzei changing his position.
Trump revives other campaign attacks
Trump also accused Drummond of donating to former President Joe Biden and the anti-Trump Lincoln Project.
A Biden contribution made in Gentner Drummond’s name was quickly withdrawn and refunded. Wendy Drummond has said she made it without her husband’s knowledge. She separately donated $1,000 to the Lincoln Project in 2020.
Federal records show Gentner Drummond has contributed to Republican candidates, the Republican National Committee and Trump.
Trump also called Drummond’s lawsuit against St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School an attack on Christianity. Drummond argued that Oklahoma could not use public money to operate a religious charter school. The Oklahoma Supreme Court agreed, and a 4-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision left that ruling in place.
Trump remains highly popular among likely Republican runoff voters, but that popularity has not transferred completely to Mazzei. The CHS poll found Trump viewed favorably by 74%, compared with 41% for Mazzei.
Voters will decide Tuesday whether the president’s final-week push breaks that tie.
