Former state senator Mike Mazzei narrowly won the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma on Aug. 25, 2026, defeating Attorney General Gentner Drummond in a closely watched runoff. The Associated Press said Mazzei benefited from President Donald Trump’s endorsement in the conservative state. The Oklahoma election results made Mazzei the party’s choice for the November contest.

Oklahoma Voice reported that Mazzei beat Drummond by about 2,000 votes and had not yet addressed supporters in its initial election-night report. The two candidates had advanced from a nine-person first-round field after each received about 26% of the vote in June. The runoff campaign drew heavy spending, with the AP citing more than $14 million in television and digital advertising during the 10-week contest and nearly $40 million spent in the broader governor’s race.

The Republican nominee will compete in the general election to replace term-limited Gov. Kevin Stitt. The nomination is significant because Oklahoma has not elected a Democratic governor in two decades, according to the AP’s election coverage. The narrow margin and high spending make the runoff a notable test of Trump’s influence in a state where his endorsement was central to the campaign, but the general election remains a separate contest with different candidates and voters.