President Donald Trump endorsed Mike Mazzei to be Oklahoma’s next governor Friday, a move that shocked political circles and boosted the former senator’s campaign to end a week that opened with him atop a new poll and saw him criticize school leaders in a debate.
It is my Great Honor to endorse MAGA Warrior, Mike Mazzei, who is running for Governor of Oklahoma, a State which I love and WON BIG — All 77 out of 77 counties in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and with the Highest Popular Vote Count, EVER!”
“As a successful Businessman, and former Chairman of the State Senate Finance Committee and later, as Oklahoma’s Secretary of Budget, 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.”
“Mike Mazzei has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of Oklahoma — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Mazzei, a financial planner and former state senator from Tulsa, touted Trump’s support in a statement Friday afternoon:
Today, President Trump gave me his complete and total endorsement for Governor of Oklahoma.
I am deeply honored by his confidence and grateful for his friendship and support.
President Trump understands what’s at stake. Oklahoma needs a proven conservative who knows how to grow jobs, cut taxes, protect our freedoms, defend our land and stand up to the political establishment when it gets in the way of common sense.
This campaign has always been about Oklahoma, our families, our values and our future. Today’s endorsement is a tremendous honor and the mission remains the same.
Now it is time to work even harder.
Let’s win this race, reclaim Oklahoma’s potential and build a stronger future for the next generation.
Trump’s surprise endorsement of Mazzei arrived less than 24 hours after a nationally televised gubernatorial primary debate in Lawton where Mazzei preached fiscal responsibility, criticized the political careers of his opponents and impugned local school district leaders from the panhandle to Little Dixie.
“We have 77 counties in the state of Oklahoma that voted for Donald Trump three times in a row. We’ve got 541 school districts that are run by liberal, left-leaning radical socialists,” Mazzei said.
Mazzei’s endorsement also came amid a trio of other Trump announcements. Posting on the social media company he owns, Truth Social, Trump endorsed:
- South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the state’s gubernatorial race;
- U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in his race for governor; and
- David Flippo in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District election.
Trump’s decision comes 18 days ahead of Oklahoma’s primary election, which has Mazzei locked in battles with Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former Secretary of Public Safety Chip Keating and former House Speaker Charles McCall to reach a nearly inevitable runoff set for late August.
Keating posted a statement about Trump’s endorsement around 8:10 p.m. Friday.
“President Trump has been a great president, and I’ll always be grateful for what he’s done for our country. But nobody can convince me that Mike Mazzei is the right choice for Oklahoma,” Keating tweeted. “I will continue to fight for a greater Oklahoma.”
McCall also posted about Trump’s endorsement soon thereafter.
“I greatly appreciate and respect the president and all that he continues to do for our nation,” McCall tweeted. “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. I plan to win this race and stand ready to lead our great state going forward.”
Drummond posted a comment shortly after that.
“I’m more energized than ever,” Drummond tweeted. “I respect President Trump and have been proud to partner with his administration to deport illegal aliens and keep Oklahoma families safe. I welcome the vigorous campaign ahead because Oklahoma is worth fighting for, and I’m ready to earn every vote over the next 18 days.”
‘A fascinating conversation with Roger Stone’
In a race where the uncertainty of a Trump endorsement had been discussed for more than a year, the president’s selection of Mazzei surprised the political establishment — a development likely to please a president, who did the same a decade earlier.
Drummond, McCall, Keating and Mazzei each angled for a potential Trump endorsement over the past year, either by hiring campaign staff and consultants with ties to Trump or hoping relationships with the president’s immediate family might pay political dividends.
Ultimately, Trump’s decision to support Mazzei becomes his second straight endorsement of an Oklahoma candidate with ties to Roger Stone, a longtime attorney and lobbyist associated with the president. Earlier this month, Trump endorsed Jackson Lahmeyer for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, which features a 10-person GOP primary.
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Mazzei’s gubernatorial campaign, which has reported nearly $4 million in personal loans, has been paying Stone’s consulting firm $7,500 per month as a “senior campaign advisor” since last year. According to Mazzei’s first quarter 2026 Ethics Commission report, his campaign has paid Stone’s Drake Ventures LLC $67,500 this cycle.
Mazzei announced a meeting between himself, Stone and Lahmeyer in a June 30, 2025, tweet. Stone formally endorsed Mazzei’s gubernatorial campaign the same day.
“Such a fascinating conversation with Roger Stone. A man who’s seen it ALL in American politics. His stories, his insight, and his candor are unmatched. I’m grateful for his support and encouragement as we continue building momentum for this campaign,” Mazzei wrote. “A big thank you to Jackson Lahmeyer for arranging this meeting. Your friendship and bold leadership are deeply appreciated. We’re not in this fight alone. With bold ideas and the right people in our corner, we WILL reclaim Oklahoma’s potential.”
I met with Mike Mazzei. He is a solid conservative and committed to the America First agenda. I will be supporting him for governor of Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/v09RKy8Xwd
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) June 30, 2025
Stone, who wore a double-breasted seersucker suit for the conversation with Mazzei, has been tweeting about Oklahoma’s political landscape over the past year, sometimes lodging allegations of malfeasance against U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK4), U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK3) and the Chickasaw Nation. Previously, Stone endorsed Lahmeyer’s 2022 campaign against U.S. Sen. James Lankford.
“If I have to save Oklahoma, I will,” Stone said in a tweet responding to criticism of his June 2025 Mazzei endorsement. “When it comes to leadership, you haven’t done so well, but don’t worry I will save you.”
In late April, Stone was profiled in Politico under the headline, “Roger Stone is Back.”
(Update: This article was updated at 9:50 p.m. Friday, May 29, to include statements from Chip Keating and Gentner Drummond.)
