The competition for Oklahoma governor is likely changing, following President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement of Mike Mazzei. Mazzei, a former state senator and budget secretary, appears to be gaining traction in the Republican primary, backed by new findings from JMC Analytics and Polling.
With just 12 days until the primary election, Mazzei has secured 24 percent support in the poll. Meanwhile, Attorney General Gentner Drummond holds 20 percent. Other candidates include former State Senator Jake Merrick with 12 percent, ex-Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating at 10 percent, and former Speaker of the House Charles McCall with 7 percent. Notably, 25 percent of participants remain undecided, placing Mazzei and Drummond in a statistical tie within the poll’s margin of error.
“We earned Donald Trump’s endorsement because our conservative policy goals are aligned with his,” Mazzei stated. “President Trump and I share a mission to lower taxes, eliminate government fraud and abuse, and build a robust economy that benefits everyone.”
Trump’s backing possibly boosts Mazzei’s appeal among voters seeking a candidate aligned with Trump’s agenda. Despite Mazzei’s rising support, Drummond’s campaign has yet to comment on these developments.
Poll Details
Further insights from the survey show 11 percent of undecided voters leaning towards Mazzei, while 6 percent favor Keating, 5 percent favor Drummond, and 3 percent favor either Merrick or McCall. Currently, 68 percent of the undecided voters remain unsure. Conducted on June 2 and June 3 among 550 likely Republican primary voters, this poll has a margin of error of 4.18 percent.
In recent primaries, Trump’s preferred candidates often succeed in competitive races. Although setbacks have occurred, such as Representative Randy Feenstra’s concession in Iowa, Trump’s endorsement tends to consolidate support among voters favoring his policies.
Voters’ Priorities
Regarding key issues, 30 percent of respondents identify inflation and cost of living as primary concerns, while 23 percent focus on border security and illegal immigration. Trump’s endorsement of Mazzei emphasized economic growth, job creation, tax reductions, regulatory cuts, and promoting American manufacturing.
Trump described Mazzei as committed to supporting farmers, securing borders, ensuring law and order, bolstering military support, and defending the Second Amendment.
Comparisons with Other Polls
A NonDoc poll conducted from May 21 to May 25 showed Mazzei at 22.1 percent, Drummond at 21.66 percent, and Keating at 21.44 percent, with McCall also achieving double digits at 18.38 percent. It surveyed 457 Oklahoma Republicans with a 4.6 percent margin of error.
In contrast, a January poll from Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates indicated Drummond leading with 36 percent, compared to McCall’s 14 percent, while Keating and Mazzei both held 13 percent. This poll involved 600 Republican primary voters with a 4.3 percent margin of error.
An earlier survey by co/efficient in October showed McCall with 31 percent, Drummond with 20 percent, Keating at 5 percent, Merrick at 3 percent, and Mazzei with just 1 percent. In this poll, 38 percent were undecided.