By USPatriotNews.com Editorial Team
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If you needed any more proof that the RINO problem in the Republican Party is alive and well — even in deep-red Oklahoma — look no further than the state’s upcoming gubernatorial runoff. President Donald J. Trump has thrown his complete and total endorsement behind Mike Mazzei, a true MAGA conservative, while delivering a scorching, fact-filled takedown of his opponent, incumbent Governor Gentner Drummond — a man Trump has flatly labeled a “FAKE Republican.” With the runoff set for Tuesday, August 25th, Oklahoma Republicans need to know exactly who they’re dealing with before they step into the voting booth.
Trump’s Oklahoma Record Speaks for Itself
In This Article
Let’s start with the baseline: Oklahoma is Trump country, full stop. President Trump is the only president in history to sweep all 77 Oklahoma counties — not once, not twice, but in three straight elections. He did what even the great Ronald Reagan couldn’t fully accomplish. He earned more votes than any candidate in the state’s history. When Donald Trump speaks about Oklahoma, he speaks with the authority of a man who has earned the trust of every corner of that state, from the panhandle to the Arkansas border.
That’s precisely why his endorsement of Mike Mazzei carries enormous weight. This isn’t a transactional political nod — this is the President of the United States putting his credibility on the line for a candidate he believes will fight for Oklahoma’s workers, families, and future. Mazzei is described by Trump as a “MAGA Warrior,” and in today’s political climate, that’s exactly the kind of fighter Oklahoma needs in the governor’s mansion.
Who Is Gentner Drummond — Really?
Now let’s talk about the man standing in the way: Gentner Drummond. Oklahoma Republicans deserve to know the full picture of their sitting governor, because the mainstream media certainly isn’t going to tell them.
According to publicly available campaign finance records, Drummond donated to Joe Biden — yes, the same Sleepy Joe Biden whose catastrophic presidency gave us open borders, rampant inflation, and a weaponized Department of Justice. But it gets worse. Drummond also donated to the Lincoln Project — the notorious anti-Trump political operation that has become a symbol of everything wrong with the consultant class that calls itself “Republican” while working hand-in-glove with the radical left.
The Lincoln Project’s record is nothing short of shameful. Its co-founder John Weaver resigned in disgrace in 2021 after reports emerged — covered even by outlets like The New York Times — that he had sent unsolicited, sexually provocative messages to dozens of young men, including allegations involving a minor. The organization imploded in scandal. Co-founder Steve Schmidt, who had already made a name for himself attacking conservatives, left the group amid the fallout. The Lincoln Project spent years advocating for open borders, pushing gender ideology into America’s institutions, and working to destroy anyone who stood with Trump. This is what Drummond and his wife Wendy financially supported. Oklahoma voters have every right to know that. We also cover this in Trump Promises Biggest July 4th Celebration EVER — America Is Back.
And then there’s the question of where Drummond stood on the Democrats’ impeachment circus against President Trump. Rather than standing firmly with his party and his voters — the overwhelming majority of Oklahoma Republicans who viewed the impeachment proceedings as a politically motivated hoax — Drummond publicly stated he had “no opinion.” No opinion. On the impeachment of the most popular Republican president in modern history. In the reddest of red states. That tells you everything you need to know about Gentner Drummond’s spine.
The Aluminum Plant: Jobs, Security, and Oklahoma’s Future
Perhaps nothing illustrates the contrast between Mazzei and Drummond more sharply than the fight over a major new aluminum manufacturing facility planned for Inola, Oklahoma. This isn’t a small project. According to Trump, it is slated to be the largest aluminum plant in the United States — fully financed, shovel-ready, and positioned to bring an enormous wave of good-paying jobs to northeastern Oklahoma. The investors behind it are serious players with multiple alternative sites across the country already lined up. If Oklahoma fumbles this, another state wins.
The stakes go beyond local jobs. American aluminum production is a matter of national security. The United States has seen its domestic manufacturing capacity hollowed out for decades, and dependence on foreign sources for critical industrial materials is a vulnerability our adversaries are well aware of. A plant of this scale would help address that gap — strengthening American industry, funding local schools through tax revenue, and reducing the tax burden on Oklahoma families.
Mike Mazzei supports this plant. He understands that pro-growth, pro-jobs leadership is what Oklahoma deserves.
Gentner Drummond? He sued to block it — unsuccessfully, but the intent was clear. Whether motivated by political grievance, cronyism, or simple ideological confusion, Drummond went to court to stop one of the most consequential economic development projects in his state’s recent history. That’s not conservatism. That’s obstruction.
For good measure, Drummond also sued to block a faith-based charter school that had the backing of the Trump administration — a direct assault on religious liberty and school choice, two pillars of the conservative movement. The Supreme Court has been moving decisively in favor of religious educational options for American families. Drummond moved in the opposite direction.
Bottom Line
Oklahoma Republicans face a clear and consequential choice on August 25th. On one side: Mike Mazzei, a proven MAGA conservative endorsed by President Trump, who supports American jobs, religious freedom, and the values of the people of Oklahoma. On the other: Gentner Drummond, a governor who donated to Joe Biden, bankrolled the scandal-ridden Lincoln Project alongside his wife, tried to kill thousands of Oklahoma jobs by suing to block a landmark aluminum plant, attacked a Christian charter school, and couldn’t muster a single word of support for President Trump when the radical left came after him.
The choice couldn’t be more obvious. Oklahoma needs Mike Mazzei. Get out and vote on Tuesday, August 25th — and make sure every conservative you know does the same.
For more coverage of the 2026 election cycle and the fight to keep Republicans accountable, visit our Politics section.