Gentner Drummond, Oklahoma’s attorney general, leads Mike Mazzei in partial results from the state’s GOP governor primary held June 16, with nine Republican candidates competing to succeed term-limited Governor Kevin Stitt in the race for Oklahoma’s top office.
The primary marked a significant moment in Oklahoma politics, as Stitt is barred from seeking another term by the state’s two-term gubernatorial limit. Mazzei, a former state senator, received an endorsement from President Donald Trump ahead of the election, positioning himself as a major challenger to Drummond’s frontrunner status.
Drummond, who has served as Oklahoma’s attorney general since January 2023, built his campaign on his military background and law enforcement record. According to retrieved polling data, Drummond had been the choice of 36% of Oklahoma Republican primary voters in pre-election surveys, though the race tightened significantly in the weeks before voting. Mazzei, along with former House Speaker Charles McCall and former Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating, emerged as top-tier competitors in the crowded field.
The nine-candidate Republican primary reflected a wide-open race for the nomination. Before the election, polling showed the contest was competitive among the four leading candidates—Drummond, Mazzei, McCall, and Keating—each drawing support from different segments of Oklahoma’s Republican base. Trump’s endorsement of Mazzei in early June was seen as a potential game-changer in a race where Drummond had once held a commanding lead.
With partial results now being reported, Drummond’s lead represents a rebound from the competitive positioning suggested by late-stage polling. The top two finishers are expected to advance to a general election on November 3, 2026, where the Republican nominee will face the Democratic nominee in a state that has consistently voted Republican in statewide races.
Sources
- The New York Times — Live election results for Oklahoma governor primary, June 16, 2026
- NBC News — Oklahoma Governor Primary Election 2026 live results
- The Washington Post — Oklahoma primary election results and live updates
- PBS NewsHour — Live results for Oklahoma midterm primaries
- Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates — Pre-election polling showing Drummond at 36% support
- Ballotpedia — Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2026 primary information
