As we foreshadowed last week, Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond officially tossed his fighter pilot helmet into the 2026 Oklahoma Governor’s race on Monday at a beef burger rally at the Osage County Fairgrounds.
During the event, Drummond said all the typical and expected things – he’ll work hard for Oklahomans, protect our cherished values, and make sure all feeble and frail senior citizens who dare tap their finger on the chest of a brave and noble police officer get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Or something like that.
Here’s a snippet via The Oklahoman:
Drummond took the stage as the song "Made In America" by another Oklahoman, the late Toby Keith, blared over the building's sound system. "I'm not running for governor because I want anything," Drummond said. "I'm not running for governor as a career politician looking for another promotion. I'm not running for governor to serve the special-interest groups. I'm not running for governor so that I can bow down to party bosses. I'm running for governor because I believe in the boundless potential of its people and I am deeply committed to the future that we can build together."
Sure, much of what Gentner said was canned campaign rhetoric, but I take issue with a few points.
First of all, how can he say he’s not running for governor because he wants anything? At last check, I’m pretty sure he does want to be governor and is willing to spend a lot of money to make it happen. That’s definitely something.
Second, it’s hard to argue you’re not seeking a promotion when you currently hold a state office and are now gunning for the top job. That’s like The Pioneer Woman insisting she started blogging just to share casserole recipes and basset hound photos—while cashing royalty checks from Walmart for her 14th kitchenware line. It just doesn't seem very genuine.
Finally, it’s hard to claim you’re not running to serve special-interest groups when, at the very same rally, you parade the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police to the stage for them to issue their unequivocal endorsement—just weeks after you bent the knee and dropped charges against a cop who nearly killed a defenseless old man for protesting a ticket...
Just minutes after Drummond made his formal announcement, he received his first endorsement from the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police, during an announcement at the event by that organization's president, Mark Nelson, an Oklahoma City police officer. A group of law officers stood on stage behind Nelson as he made his announcement.
Yep, Gentner Drummond will never bow to special interests… unless it’s a powerful police union pressuring him not to hold bad cops accountable!
In other news, I should announce I'm probably working on a hard-hitting exposé on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority... sponsored by PikePass!
Anyway, you can watch Gentner's beef burger rally in its entirety below.
I honestly don't take a lot of issue with Drummond's hollow talking points and vague hypocrisy. Whether you agree or disagree with the cause, all politicians cozy up to special interests of some sort. It’s part of the game. I guess what gets on my nerves is Gentner pretending he’s above it, when he’s clearly playing the game like everyone else.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
