Trump-Backed Mazzei Wins Oklahoma Governor Runoff

Trump endorsed Mazzei ahead of Oklahoma's first-round primary, which sent Mazzei and Drummond to a runoff.

Trump returned to the race repeatedly in the weeks before the runoff, attacking Drummond and urging Oklahoma Republicans to back Mazzei. The president called Drummond a "FAKE Republican" who has "a bad attitude" and "doesn't stand for the Values of Oklahoma."

Outside groups spent nearly $13 million on the runoff, according to the Daily Mail. The Club for Growth affiliate School Freedom Fund put more than $3 million into ads attacking Drummond, accusing him of refusing to defend Trump against impeachment. A rival super PAC, Put Oklahoma 1st, spent close to $3 million against Mazzei, accusing him of previously supporting tax increases.

After a debate exchange over candidate health and stamina, Drummond voluntarily released his health records and a negative drug test, then challenged Mazzei to do the same. Mazzei produced a clean test of his own. Drummond said it did not go far enough because the method could not detect substances over a longer period.

Drummond told NewsNation, "I do think the majority of Oklahomans would agree that the tariffs are too far."

Polls closed and the AP-reported count showed Mazzei ahead by six-tenths of a point.