Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial runoff

The Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial race has entered a runoff between Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state senator Mike Mazzei, driven by disputes over industrial policy and taxation.

Initially, the race centered on a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma. Supported by a $500 million U.S. Energy Department grant and endorsed by Donald Trump, the project became a major campaign issue. Drummond filed a lawsuit to block the plant, while Mazzei, a former opponent of the smelter, accepted Trump’s endorsement.

As the runoff approaches, the contest has expanded to include ideological and fiscal disagreements. Mazzei has campaigned on a plan to eliminate the state income tax within six years, citing economic growth models from other states. Meanwhile, Drummond has criticized certain members of the Republican Party as “fascist” and expressed a willingness to diverge from figures like Trump on specific legal issues. In response, the Mazzei campaign has characterized Drummond as a “liberal trial lawyer” due to his past political donations.