Trump Endorses Mike Mazzei as Republican Advances in Oklahoma Governor’s Race

President Trump celebrates his endorsed candidate's advancement in the 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial primary as the state prepares for an open-seat contest in November.

OKLAHOMA — Donald J.Trump posted on Truth Social on June 16, 2026 at 11:09 PM EST, posted on Truth Social on June 16, 2026, celebrating the advancement of Mike Mazzei, a Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma, by mentioning the source (see truthsocial). The post, accompanied by a campaign-style graphic featuring both Trump and Mazzei alongside Trump-Vance branding, declared that Mazzei had advanced in the race and highlighted the president’s endorsement as a central element of the candidate’s campaign. Oklahoma’s gubernatorial seat is open in 2026 because incumbent Republican Governor Kevin Stitt is term-limited and cannot seek reelection (see wikipedia.org). The state, which carries a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+17, is widely considered a safe Republican hold, with multiple nonpartisan forecasters rating the race as “Solid R” or “Safe R” heading into the general election cycle. Stitt won his last election with approximately 55% of the vote. Trump’s endorsement of Mazzei is part of a broader pattern of presidential involvement in down-ballot Republican primaries. In the last 30 days alone, 116 of Trump’s 695 Truth Social posts have focused on the sub-topic of 2024 and 2026 elections and candidate endorsements, underscoring the extent to which the president has used his platform to shape Republican primary outcomes across the country. The endorsement carries particular weight in a deep-red state like Oklahoma, where alignment with Trump is often a decisive factor in contested Republican primaries. The 2026 election cycle features 39 gubernatorial races across 36 states and three territories, with the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 (see Google). Of those contests, 18 incumbent governors are running for reelection while 21 seats are open due to term limits or retirements. Democrats are defending governorships in several battleground states that Trump carried in 2024, including Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, making the broader gubernatorial map one of the most competitive in recent cycles. Mazzei’s advancement in the Oklahoma primary, bolstered by Trump’s endorsement, positions him as a leading contender in what is expected to remain a solidly Republican state.