Trump Endorsement Shakes Up Oklahoma Governor Race

The race for Oklahoma governor has intensified following former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mike Mazzei, a former state senator and budget secretary. A recent JMC Analytics and Polling survey suggests that Trump’s support may be boosting Mazzei’s standing among Republican primary voters, with just 12 days remaining before the election.

Historically, Mazzei had struggled to lead in previous polls. However, the new survey shows Mazzei with 24% of the hypothetical vote. Attorney General Gentner Drummond follows closely with 20%. Former State Senator Jake Merrick received 12%, while ex-Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating garnered 10%. Former Speaker of the House Charles McCall obtained 7%. Other contenders collected less than 3%, and 25% of participants remained undecided.

Despite Mazzei leading in this poll, he and Drummond are statistically tied due to the poll’s margin of error. Mazzei stated, “We earned Donald Trump’s endorsement because our conservative goals align with his.” He emphasized shared missions with Trump, including lowering taxes and eliminating government inefficiency to build a strong economy.

Oklahoma has a reputation as a strongly Republican state. The swift impact of Trump’s endorsement was measured only three days after Newsweek’s report, suggesting Mazzei’s campaign may continue to gather momentum. Efforts by Newsweek to solicit comments from Drummond’s campaign were in progress.

Current Poll Insights

The survey indicated that among undecided voters, 11% leaned towards Mazzei, while 6% favored Keating. Drummond and McCall each received 5% and 3% respectively. However, a significant 68% of undecided voters remained. Conducted on June 2 and June 3, the poll involved 550 likely Republican primary voters and has a margin of error of 4.18%.

There is a pattern of success for Trump-endorsed candidates in recent primaries. While Senator Bill Cassidy and Congressman Thomas Massie did not win their races, Trump-backed opponents emerged victorious. This demonstrates the strong support among voters who prefer candidates aligned with Trump’s agenda. Though, it should be noted that not all Trump-endorsed candidates have succeeded, as shown by Representative Randy Feenstra’s recent concession in Iowa.

Key Issues and Endorsement Remarks

When poll participants were asked about the most important issues facing the country, 30% identified inflation and living costs, while 23% highlighted border security and illegal immigration. Trump’s endorsement emphasized his alignment with Mazzei on policies such as economic growth, job creation, reducing taxes and regulations, and promoting ‘Made in the USA’ initiatives. Trump’s backing endows Mazzei with commitments to support farmers, secure borders, halt migrant crime, enforce law and order, bolster the military, and protect the Second Amendment.

Comparisons with Other Polls

Other polls provide varied results. A NonDoc survey between May 21 and May 25 found that Mazzei had 22.1%, Drummond 21.66%, and Keating 21.44%, with McCall at 18.38%. This survey polled 457 Republicans in Oklahoma with a margin of error at 4.6%. In a Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates poll, Drummond led with 36%, while McCall and Mazzei each had 14% and 13%, respectively. The poll, conducted from January 26 to January 30, included 600 Republican voters and had a 4.3% margin of error.

An earlier co/efficient poll in October showed McCall leading with 31%, followed by Drummond at 20%, Keating with 5%, Merrick with 3%, 1% for Mazzei, and 3% opting for another candidate, while 38% remained undecided.