Trump-endorsed candidate clears key hurdle in red state gubernatorial race
Mike Mazzei, a former Oklahoma state senator and financial planner, won a primary election runoff on Tuesday evening with the backing of President Donald Trump to secure the GOP nomination for governor in Oklahoma.
Having beaten out Genter Drummond, the current Oklahoma attorney general, Mazzei is now the heavy favorite to become the Sooner State’s next governor.
His win is also a political victory for outgoing Gov.
Kevin Stitt, who has opposed Drummond for years.
Stitt and Drummond have sparred over lawsuits, pointed letters and public criticisms.
At one point, Stitt even described Drummond as a "longtime political enemy" in a quote to local outlets.
TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE SPARKS RUNOFF AGAINST POPULAR PROSECUTOR IN KEY GUBERNATORIAL RACE The feud between them centers on Drummond’s attacks of Oklahoma poultry companies for what he sees as decades of phosphorus pollution in water supplies.
Stitt has rebuffed those characterizations, calling them an overreach of Drummond’s role as attorney general and warning that litigation against the companies could threaten jobs and the agricultural industry of the state.
Stitt endorsed Mazzei, stating that "we want a pro-business governor in there to take the lead for the next four years." Stitt is prevented by term limits from running again.
His exit prompted a crowded field of hopefuls to replace him, but after an initial primary on June 2, no candidate secured the 50% support needed to lock up the nomination outright.
Only Drummond and Mazzei advanced to a runoff.
Like Stitt, President Donald Trump also endorsed Mazzei, calling him a "MAGA warrior." "As a successful Businessman, and former Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee, and later, as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Budget, Mike knows the AMERICA FIRST Policies required to Grow our Economy, Create GREAT Jobs, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., and Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE," Trump wrote in a May post to Truth Social.
TRUMP-BACKED FIREBRAND WINS ARIZONA GOP GOVERNOR PRIMARY, SETTING UP HIGH-STAKES SHOWDOWN Mazzei based his campaign on promises to cut taxes, among other state-government reforms.
"I have a detailed plan to eliminate Oklahoma’s income tax in six years.
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