Oklahoma – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has made his health, financial records and drug test part of the increasingly heated Republican race for governor, releasing records as his Aug. 25 runoff against former state Sen. Mike Mazzei draws closer.
Drummond previously said he would release copies of his financial and health records and submit to a drug test after the candidates were asked during an Aug. 3 Republican gubernatorial debate whether they would voluntarily make such information public.
The issue has since become a campaign flashpoint, with Drummond agreeing to provide the information while Mazzei declined to release comparable records. Oklahoma Gazette reported that Drummond said he would provide tax returns, health information and a drug test, while Mazzei initially said he would provide financial information and a letter from his doctor before later saying he would not release the records, Oklahoma Voice reported.
Drummond’s health records, reported by Oklahoma Voice on Aug. 14, showed a negative drug test and included a statement from his doctor that the 62-year-old candidate was in “excellent overall health.”
The release comes at a politically significant moment for Drummond, who is competing against Mazzei for the Republican nomination. The winner of the Aug. 25 runoff will advance to the Nov. 3 general election, where the Republican nominee will face Democratic candidate Cyndi Munson and other candidates.
The debate over personal records has taken on added importance because voters are being asked to choose between two candidates presenting themselves as different versions of the Republican Party.
Drummond has sought to portray himself as a Republican willing to put Oklahoma ahead of party politics, while Mazzei has emphasized his endorsement from President Donald Trump and his intention to move the state in a more conservative direction.
The health-record dispute emerged during the Aug. 3 debate, when candidates were questioned about whether gubernatorial contenders should voluntarily release tax returns and health information. Drummond immediately agreed to release the information and also volunteered to take a drug test.
Mazzei took a different position. According to Oklahoma Gazette, he initially said he would provide financial information and a letter from his doctor but did not agree to release tax returns or take a drug test. By the end of the following week, he had decided against releasing the records.
That difference has given the issue additional political weight as the runoff approaches. Drummond’s campaign can point to his decision to release the information as evidence of transparency, while Mazzei has argued that he does not want to participate in what he considers an inappropriate demand for personal information.
The dispute has also become part of the broader campaign battle between the two Republicans, who have clashed over several major issues, including the proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter in Inola.
Drummond has taken legal action against the project, while Mazzei has supported it and received Trump’s endorsement. The two candidates also have differences over taxes, education and the size and role of state government.
The race has grown increasingly competitive since the June Republican primary, when Drummond narrowly finished ahead of Mazzei without receiving enough votes to avoid a runoff. Drummond received slightly more than 26% of the vote, while Mazzei finished just below 26%, sending the two candidates into the Aug. 25 contest.
With the runoff now less than two weeks away, the records dispute gives voters another point of contrast between the candidates.
For Drummond, releasing his health records and drug-test results allows him to argue that he has nothing to hide about his ability to serve as governor. His doctor described him as being in excellent overall health, while the released drug test was negative.
The decision also puts additional pressure on a campaign already focused heavily on questions about the candidates’ fitness, transparency and leadership.
The Republican runoff will determine which candidate advances to the November general election and continues the fight to succeed Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Oklahoma governor race takes personal turn as Drummond releases drug test while President Trump's backed rival refuses to do the same
