By Brinklee Stegall, Gaylord News

In one of Oklahoma's most closely contested Republican gubernatorial primaries in recent memory, President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mike Mazzei came less than three weeks before voters head to the polls on June 16.  

Before Friday’s endorsement, Mazzei, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former House Speaker Charles McCall and businessman Chip Keating were in a competitive race for the Republican nomination, with each candidate working to appeal to many of the same conservative voters. 

A NonDoc poll conducted May 21-25 showed just how tight the race had become, with Mazzei receiving 22.1 percent support, followed by Drummond at 21.7 percent, Keating at 21.4 percent, and McCall at 18.4 percent.

Allyson Shortle, a University of Oklahoma political science professor who helped conduct the survey, said the poll's most significant finding was the absence of a clear frontrunner. 

“The main takeaway was that there was no clear frontrunner in the race,” Shortle said.

The endorsement raised questions about whether Trump's backing could reshape an already competitive race or simply increase momentum that was already building behind Mazzei. 

Trump announced the endorsement on Truth Social on May 29, calling Mazzei a "MAGA Warrior" and saying he "will never let you down."

Mazzei later thanked Trump for the endorsement, calling it a "tremendous honor" and saying the campaign's mission remained the same.

Andrew Speno, a spokesperson for the Mazzei campaign, said Trump endorsed Mazzei because the two share similar conservative priorities.

“Donald Trump endorsed Mike Mazzei in this race because their conservative policy goals are aligned,” Speno said. “President Trump and Mike Mazzei both fight for lower taxes, fixing public schools, and a powerful economy that brings prosperity to everyone.”

Shortle said endorsements can influence voters who strongly support a candidate, particularly those who were previously undecided.

“I would expect staunch Trump supporters, especially those who were on the fence previously, to line up in support of Mazzei in the primary,” Shortle said.

Political strategist Pat McFerron said even before the endorsement that Trump carried significant weight among Oklahoma voters. 

“President Trump is in that class by himself,” McFerron said. 

Political scientist and Oklahoma State University professor Seth McKee said the endorsement could carry significant weight among Oklahoma Republicans.

McKee said some voters may view Trump’s endorsement as an indicator of who best represents the president's priorities, making it easier for undecided voters to choose a candidate. 

“I think it's the cue that has a lot of people making up their minds,” McKee said. “That alone could be enough.”

McKee said Trump's influence is particularly significant in Oklahoma, where he carried all 77 counties in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.

“When you win all 77 counties three presidential cycles in a row, that's a big deal,” McKee said.

The endorsement came after months of competition among the race's four leading candidates. 

Prior to Trump’s endorsement, McFerron described the contest as a "clearly a top-four tier" race featuring Drummond, Mazzei, McCall and Keating.

“And I think it's probably in that order at this point," McFerron said, referring to how he viewed the candidates before the endorsement. 

McFerron said that Drummond had a “renegade” appeal and willingness to stand up to others, even if the candidates had many of the same conservative priorities.

Drummond was widely viewed as the frontrunner due to his statewide profile as attorney general and higher name recognition among voters. 

“His name ID, as really the only active politician in the mix there, was a real benefit for him,” McKee said. 

McKee said the endorsement could weaken one of Drummond's key advantages in the race.

“I think it certainly undermines it, undercuts it. I don't think there's a question about that,” McKee said. 

The endorsement prompted quick responses from all three of Mazzei's leading Republican opponents. 

Drummond signaled confidence in his campaign despite missing out on Trump's backing.

“I'm more energized than ever,” Drummond posted on X. “I respect President Trump and have been proud to partner with his administration to deport illegal aliens and keep Oklahoma families safe.”

Keating also pushed back on the endorsement. 

“President Trump has been a great president, and I'll always be grateful for what he's done for our country,” Keating posted on X. “But nobody can convince me that Mike Mazzei is the right choice for Oklahoma.”

McCall also thanked Trump while separating himself from Mazzei.

“I greatly appreciate and respect the president and all that he continues to do for our nation,” McCall posted on X. “Here in Oklahoma we have to make a choice about who is going to govern the state going forward on our own and Mike Mazzei is certainly not that choice.”

The endorsement also surprised many political observers because Mazzei was not widely viewed as the race's clear favorite before Trump's announcement.

“I think it was, you know, let's just be honest, somewhat of a shock,” McKee said. “This guy was not certainly the favorite, right? I don't think this was someone anyone was really talking about.”

McKee also said the endorsement could help overcome one of Mazzei’s biggest weaknesses in the race. 

“He probably didn't have the most name ID when you've got an active attorney general and someone with the last name Keating,” McKee said. “So, yeah, it's helping his name ID.”

McKee said the campaign's immediate emphasis on the endorsement demonstrated its potential value, noting that references to Trump's backing appeared across campaign materials and social media profiles soon after the announcement.

According to McKee, the most important unanswered question is whether the endorsement will have enough influence to significantly change the primary's outcome.

“A runoff was guaranteed before Trump leveled this endorsement,” McKee said. "I'm just curious if it can push Mazzei forward—that he could win it outright without a runoff.” 

Whether Trump’s backing is enough to propel Mazzei to an outright victory or simply strengthen his position in a likely runoff remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in the race.

Drummond’s campaign declined an interview before publication, citing scheduling constraints in the final weeks before the primary.

Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication.  For more stories by Gaylord News, go to GaylordNews.net.