Oklahoma’s August Runoffs: No Majority Wins in Two High-Profile Races

Oklahoma Republicans will hold runoff elections for governor and the state’s open 1st Congressional District seat after no candidate secured a majority in Tuesday’s primary contests.

In the gubernatorial race, Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state senator Mike Mazzei advanced to the August 25 runoff to succeed term-limited Governor Kevin Stitt. With approximately 94% of votes counted, Drummond received 26% of the vote while Mazzei garnered 25.6%. Chip Keating, son of former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, placed third with 18.4%, followed by six other candidates.

The contest pits two prominent figures in Oklahoma politics against each other. Drummond, who has served as attorney general since 2023, entered the race with strong statewide recognition and campaigned on his record as the state’s top law enforcement official. Mazzei, a former state senator and investment adviser, emphasized conservative economic policies and secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Trump’s backing provided Mazzei with a significant boost in the crowded Republican field and elevated the national profile of the race. The winner of this runoff will advance to the November general election against Democrat Cyndi Munson.

Meanwhile, Republicans in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District will also face a runoff after no candidate achieved a majority in Tuesday’s primary contest for the seat to succeed Representative Kevin Hern, who won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate earlier that day.

State Representative Mark Tedford and former Senate candidate Jackson Lahmeyer emerged as the top two finishers with approximately 90% of votes counted, placing Tedford at 31.8% and Lahmeyer at 25.9%. Nathan Butterfield came in third with 15.9%, followed by eight other candidates.

Lahmeyer received Trump’s endorsement during his campaign and highlighted that support in his bid for the Tulsa-area seat. Tedford, on the other hand, benefited from endorsements from several Oklahoma Republican leaders, including Hern, who supported him as his preferred successor.

The 1st District, centered in Tulsa and surrounding communities, is considered a safe Republican district, making the GOP runoff likely to determine Hern’s congressional successor.

The August runoffs will cap a busy election season in Oklahoma and help establish the state’s Republican nominees for two of its highest-profile races. The governor’s contest is expected to draw particular attention as Republicans choose a successor to Stitt and position themselves for the general election campaign this fall.