President Donald Trump makes rare visit to Oklahoma ahead of midterm elections
DURANT, okay. —
The midterm elections are almost here and President Donald Trump was in Oklahoma Thursday to lobby Republican voters.
The president headlined a rally at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant after stopping in Denton, Texas, earlier in the day.
>> Video below: ‘Trump Country’: Oklahomans brace themselves as President Trump prepares to hold campaign rally in Durant
Midterm rally in Oklahoma
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei said the goal of the rally was to get voters to the polls.
Besides Trump, speakers include Mazzei, lieutenant governor candidate TW Shannon and other Trump-backed candidates.
Mazzei and Trump say they agree on many issues, but not all. Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate opposes importing foreign beef while supporting presidential-backed smelter proposed for Inola.
Democrats say Trump’s visit to Oklahoma could signal Republican concern as the midterm elections approach, but Republicans say they are confident Trump’s visit will bring the voters they need to the polls.
>> Video below: Trump-backed Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei breaks with president on beef imports
Learn more about the Oklahoma Rally
Trump will make his first stop in Oklahoma since 2020, when he held a campaign rally in Tulsa. Trump will bring Republicans together in hopes of retaining Republican control of Congress, both in the House and the Senate.
The candidates that Trump has supported and who are on Oklahomans’ ballots in November include all of the incumbent House candidates — Reps. Tom Cole, Frank Lucas, Stephanie Bice and Josh Brecheen — as well as Mark Tedford, who is the Republican running for the House seat for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District.
Trump also expressed support for U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Hern, Mazzei and Shannon.
A local political science professor called the visit and rally interesting because Oklahoma is a Republican stronghold.
>> Video below: Trump’s Oklahoma rally to take place hours after gubernatorial debate taping
President Donald Trump’s Message to Oklahomans
Trump recorded a message to Oklahomans ahead of his visit to the state earlier.
Sen. James Lankford posted the video to his social media pages, thanking the president for his kind words in speaking about the upcoming Tulsa State Fair.
“Hello to all the hard-working, freedom-loving patriots at the Tulsa State Fair. And, by the way, Tulsa is in a state that I love. It’s called Oklahoma. A place where I’ve won big three times,” Trump said in the video.
>> Video below: President Donald Trump sends a message to Oklahomans ahead of his visit
The president not only won Oklahoma in his three presidential campaigns, but he also won all 77 counties each time.
“I want to thank Oklahoma for your support and a special thank you to a really, really great senator – James Lankford, a friend of mine – as well as your next senator, Kevin Hern,” Trump said.
Hern is running against Democrat N’Kiyla “Jasmine” Thomas, Libertarian Sevier White and independents Ron Meinhardt and Curtis Stinnett for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Senator Alan Armstrong has held this seat since Mullin joined Trump’s cabinet.
“And I want to thank you, Oklahoma. You have been a special place and a special state,” Trump said.
>> Get more headlines | Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to the KOCO 5 YouTube channel | Sign up for the KOCO 5 morning newsletter
Gn usa
