Oklahomans gathered in Durant Thursday evening as President Trump made a campaign stop in southeastern Oklahoma. The event brought together several Oklahoma Republican candidates and officials ahead of Trump’s appearance, including Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei, Congressman Josh Brecheen, U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Hern, lieutenant governor candidate T.W. Shannon and congressional candidate Mark Tedford. Farm Director KC Sheperd was in Durant covering the event and gathering remarks from those who spoke before the president.
Markwayne Mullin
Markwayne Mullin returned to Oklahoma and spoke about his experience serving in President Donald Trump’s administration, saying he believes Trump remains focused on strengthening the country and continuing to fight for what he believes is best for America. Mullin also reflected on his Oklahoma roots and the significance of returning home to speak to the crowd.
Much of Mullin’s remarks centered on border security and immigration. He credited the Trump administration with strengthening border enforcement and argued that securing the country is an important part of protecting American communities. He also pointed to reductions in crime that he attributed to the administration’s policies and said the Department of Homeland Security’s role is to protect the country.
Mullin also spoke about what he described as a broader political fight over the country’s values and foundation. He criticized the Democratic Party over its positions on socialism, immigration, policing and cultural issues, while describing Republicans as a party focused on common sense. He said he believes protecting the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the country’s traditions should remain central to the Republican Party.
Mullin closed by calling for Republicans to remain united heading into elections, regardless of which candidate they supported during the primary. He urged Republicans across the country to support their party’s nominees and said the effort to defend the country requires continued involvement from voters.
Mike Mazzei
Mike Mazzei opened his remarks by thanking law enforcement, the Choctaw Nation and the crowd in Durant, saying he was optimistic about working on issues including jobs, schools, roads and healthcare. He also spoke about his faith, his family and his experience building a financial planning business with his wife, Noel, who he noted grew up on a farm.
Mazzei said his experience as a businessman shaped his belief that economic prosperity comes from hard work, lower taxes, less government and greater individual freedom. He said President Donald Trump inspired him to run for governor and described his campaign as an effort to take a conservative plan directly to Oklahoma voters.
As part of that plan, Mazzei said he wants to eliminate Oklahoma’s state income tax and abolish property taxes for seniors and veterans. He also outlined plans to change K-12 education, pointing to an approach he said helped Mississippi improve its education rankings. Mazzei emphasized faith, family, community and service as central values he would bring to the governor’s office.
Mazzei also praised Trump’s record on manufacturing, taxes, border security, law enforcement and support for the military and veterans. He repeatedly emphasized Trump’s endorsement of his campaign and said he intends to be a governor who will fight for Oklahoma and work to make life better for its residents.
Josh Brecheen
Josh Brecheen used a story from his experience raising cattle to make a broader argument about government and individual freedom. Brecheen recalled owning a small herd of Brahman-cross cattle and gradually training the cows to enter a pen for feed. Over the course of more than a year, he slowly moved the gate closer closed while continuing to leave an opening for the cattle to escape, eventually conditioning them to enter the pen without fear.
Brecheen said the cattle story illustrates what he views as the dangers of becoming dependent on government assistance. He argued that, just as the cattle became focused on the free feed and eventually allowed the gate to be closed, people can become willing to give up some of their freedom when they become dependent on government handouts. He used the example of cattle being confined for practices including castration, vaccinations, weaning and shipping to market to reinforce his point.
From there, Brecheen focused on his opposition to socialism, arguing that the principles of socialism conflict with the nation’s founding principles of individual liberty and personal responsibility. He said the role of government should be to protect individual rights rather than become the primary provider, and argued that government dependency can lead to greater control over people’s lives.
Brecheen also criticized what he described as progressive positions on government, education and gender issues. He argued that policies involving government control and social issues represent a broader threat to individual and parental authority, closing his remarks with a call for Americans to recognize what he sees as the risks of allowing government dependence to grow.
Kevin Hern
Kevin Hern, GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate, focused his remarks on the America First agenda, saying the priorities of the Trump administration are tied to taxes, family finances, national security and the country’s future. He highlighted the One Big Beautiful Bill, pointing to provisions involving taxes, overtime, tips and Social Security, and said Republicans also need to address federal spending and the national debt.
Hern also emphasized border security and immigration, crediting President Trump with closing the southern border and enforcing existing immigration laws. He said the administration is also working to make the country more energy dominant and highlighted Oklahoma’s role in energy production and its importance to the state’s economy.
Another major focus was election security. Hern promoted the Save America Act, which he said would establish additional requirements to ensure voters are citizens and that their identities are verified when voting. He said he has voted for the legislation four times in the House and urged its passage in the Senate.
Hern closed by urging Oklahoma voters to support Republican candidates and maintain Republican majorities in Congress. He framed the upcoming election as important to preserving what he called the “America First” agenda and said voters should turn out not only for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren.
T.W. Shannon
TW Shannon focused his remarks on what he described as the “America First” agenda and its connection to Oklahoma. He praised President Donald Trump for cutting taxes, bringing manufacturing back to the country and securing the southern border, while emphasizing that an America First approach should begin with putting Oklahoma first.
Shannon also reflected on his Oklahoma roots, describing himself as a sixth-generation Oklahoman who grew up in Lawton. He spoke about his parents, his upbringing in a small Black Baptist church and the Christian values he said shaped his life and career, including his time working for members of Congress, serving as Speaker of the Oklahoma House and leading a bank.
He said he has spent the year traveling throughout Oklahoma, from Guymon to Broken Bow and Altus to Miami, talking with residents about what they want from their next lieutenant governor. According to Shannon, those conversations consistently centered on three priorities: fixing Oklahoma’s roads, improving schools and giving Oklahomans more freedom from government interference.
Mark Tedford
Mark Tedford focused his remarks on his campaign for Congress in Oklahoma’s 1st District and his support for President Donald Trump and the “America First” agenda. He pointed to Trump’s actions on border security and taxes, including provisions involving tips, overtime and Social Security, and cited a reported decline in violent crime as examples of the administration’s priorities.
Tedford also drew on his more than 30 years of experience building a family business in Oklahoma. He said his experience taught him the importance of hard work, perseverance and the opportunity to build a successful life, arguing that Americans should have the freedom to start businesses, raise families and pursue their own goals without excessive government involvement.
Much of his speech centered on what he described as a contrast between opportunity and government dependence. Tedford criticized what he characterized as growing support for socialism and greater government control, saying the country should instead preserve free enterprise, individual rights and what he called the American dream.
Tedford said he is running for Congress to support Trump’s priorities on border security, government spending, taxes and American workers. He closed by encouraging voters to bring others into the political process and said he wants to help keep what he described as the “door” to the American dream open for future generations.
The Durant event comes as Oklahoma’s 2026 gubernatorial race moves toward the November general election. Several of the speakers at Thursday’s event are seeking statewide office, including the Republican nominations for governor and lieutenant governor. Oklahoma voters will decide those races, along with other state and federal offices, in the November 3 general election.
