Trump endorsement lifts Mazzei in Oklahoma primary poll

A new survey of likely Republican voters finds Mike Mazzei ahead of Attorney General Gentner Drummond in Oklahoma’s gubernatorial primary just 12 days before ballots are cast—an apparent shift after President Donald Trump’s endorsement last week. Mazzei’s camp

By the time President Donald Trump’s endorsement landed last week, Mike Mazzei was already in a crowded Oklahoma race for governor—one that had repeatedly shuffled the top spot among familiar names.

In the latest survey released Thursday, Mazzei appears to be gaining ground. The poll from JMC Analytics and Polling. taken on June 2 and June 3. finds Mazzei at 24 percent of the hypothetical vote among 550 likely Republican primary voters. Attorney General Gentner Drummond follows at 20 percent, within the poll’s margin of error—meaning the two are statistically tied.

The rest of the field trails. Former Oklahoma State Senator Jake Merrick records 12 percent. Ex-Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating has 10 percent, and former Oklahoma Speaker of the House Charles McCall gets 7 percent. A few other candidates land below 3 percent, and 25 percent of respondents remain undecided.

That “undecided” chunk is where the race could tighten quickly. When voters are asked which candidate they are leaning toward supporting. 11 percent of the undecideds say they’re leaning to Mazzei. while 6 percent pick Keating. 5 percent choose Drummond. and 3 percent say Merrick or McCall. Even with that spread, 68 percent of likely Republican primary voters remain undecided.

Mazzei’s campaign frames the endorsement as a match of priorities. In a statement to Newsweek on Thursday. Mazzei said. “We earned Donald Trump’s endorsement because our conservative policy goals are aligned with his. President Trump and I are both on the same mission to lower taxes. weed out government fraud and abuse. and build a powerful economy that brings prosperity to everyone.” He added. “Oklahoma is a very red state and this poll was taken only three days after President Trump‘s endorsement. Support for our campaign will just keep growing from here.”.

Drummond’s campaign did not offer a response to questions sent by email on Thursday for comment.

The timing matters. The poll showing Mazzei’s edge was taken only three days after Trump’s endorsement of the former state senator and budget secretary. With ballots still 12 days away. the shift—however small statistically—suggests Trump’s backing may be consolidating at least some voters who were previously unsure.

In the background, Mazzei hasn’t been consistently atop earlier polling this year. The new results come after a pattern in which he “rarely placed first” in surveys conducted by different pollsters.

One earlier snapshot, from NonDoc, surveyed 457 Oklahoma Republicans from May 21 to May 25. It found Mazzei at 22.1 percent, Drummond at 21.66 percent, and Keating at 21.44 percent. McCall reached 18.38 percent. That poll carried a margin of error of 4.6 percent.

Another poll. by Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates. showed Drummond leading with 36 percent compared with McCall’s 14 percent. while Keating and Mazzei sat at 13 percent each and Merrick at 5 percent. That survey ran from January 26 to January 30 among 600 Republican primary voters in Oklahoma. and said the results were within 4.3% of the true value.

And in October, a survey from co/efficient showed McCall at 31 percent and Drummond at 20 percent. Keating had 5 percent and Merrick had 3 percent, with Mazzei at 1 percent. Three percent said someone else, and 38 percent were undecided.

Even with the new poll’s numbers, the race remains volatile—especially because Trump’s influence hasn’t translated into universal primary success.

The broader political context is familiar: Trump’s preferred candidates have sometimes won competitive elections. while endorsed efforts have also fallen short. The source recounts that Republican Senator Bill Cassidy lost his race and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie lost his. with Trump backing both of their opponents. At the same time. the week did include at least one primary-related loss for Trump’s side. with Representative Randy Feenstra—whom Trump endorsed—conceding in the race for Iowa governor.

Trump’s endorsement itself, delivered late last month, aimed to tie Mazzei to a specific platform. In the endorsement. Trump said in part that. “Mike knows the AMERICA FIRST Policies required to Grow our Economy. Create GREAT Jobs. Cut Taxes and Regulations. Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A. and Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE. As your next Governor. Mike will fight tirelessly to Support our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers. Keep our Border SECURE. Stop Migrant Crime. Ensure LAW AND ORDER. Strengthen our Military/Veterans. and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”.

National questions are also showing up in the poll’s results about what matters most. When respondents were asked what the most important issue facing the country today is, 30 percent said inflation and the cost of living, while 23 percent named border security and illegal immigration.

Taken together, the new Oklahoma numbers point to a race that may be shifting—but not settling. Mazzei’s 24 percent stands as a boost after Trump’s endorsement. yet Drummond’s 20 percent is close enough to keep the contest tight inside the margin of error. With 68 percent still undecided and the leaning breakdown showing Mazzei pulling a larger share than the rest of the field among undecideds. the next stretch could decide whether this looks like the start of momentum—or just a moment before the primary turns even more fiercely to the final days.

Oklahoma governor primary Mike Mazzei Gentner Drummond Donald Trump endorsement JMC Analytics and Polling likely Republican voters