Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Endorses Attorney General Gentner Drummond for Governor of Oklahoma

Listen to KC Sheperd talking with Attorney General Gentner Drummond about current litigations and OCA’s recent endorsement of him for governor.

Farm Director KC Sheperd was fortunate to attend the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s 2025 Policy Meeting today because nearly eighteen months before any primary elections, the OCA announced its endorsement of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond for Governor of Oklahoma. This led Drummond to confirm what many have been asking, that he, in fact, does intend to run for the office in 2026.

Drummond believes that his background in agriculture combined with his willful authenticity is what appeals to the OCA. “I hate being anything but authentic, and I have had too many people ask, ‘Gentner, are you running for governor in ‘26?’ I am tired of deflecting that question. Yes. I am running for governor in ’26.”

Returning to litigation questions, Sheperd asked about his lawsuits against the former Biden administration. “We have seventeen active lawsuits in federal court against the Biden administration,” he said. “We have great confidence that the Trump administration will come in and support agriculture in Oklahoma. Get the Fish and Wildlife off of our backs. He will support the production of oil and gas across the state by getting the EPA off of our backs. There are so many things that were adverse on the litigation side with the Biden administration that I think we will have great results.”

Regarding policies, Attorney General Drummond feels that Biden’s catch-and-release methods of dealing with illegal immigration have been detrimental to the safety of Oklahomans. “Oklahoma was literally invaded by more than 40,000 illegal immigrants, principally from China and the senate loa coast of Mexico,” Drummond stated. “With those two groups of people, came great crime and havoc to the state.”

He emphasized the understanding that some of the individuals have a legitimate claim to be on U.S. soil due to fear of threat or for work but stated that there is a legal immigration process. He spoke directly to foreign-born viewers compelling them to follow the legal process and Federal and State laws.

“We need laborers in our ag industries in Oklahoma,” he insisted. “There is a path, and we want them here legally, and I will be supportive of that. But the ones who are here just to create havoc and promulgate crime, we now have the tools to arrest them and deport them.”

Only days after being sworn into office, Drummond was handed the task of negotiating a remedy to an 18-year-old federal lawsuit that the State had filed against poultry companies over poultry litter pollution of state waters, particularly the Illinois River watershed and Lake Tenkiller. While federal Judge Gregory Frizzell found in favor of the State, he directed the Attorney General to forge an agreement with the poultry companies and subsidiaries to ensure environmental cleanup. Drummond has been involved in extensive negotiations with poultry industry leaders.

The poultry brief is now before Federal Judge Greg Frizell to make a ruling. “I have met with the poultry leaders of Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas, and I would like very much to find a path through which we can all work together,” Drummond said. “Poultry wants clean water and vibrant real estate. The State of Oklahoma wants clean water and vibrant real estate. We want the poultry industry to be healthy, strong, safe, and secure. For so many of our friends in Eastern Oklahoma, that is their livelihood, just like for the Drummond family, it is raising cattle in the Osage. I want that industry to not be injured, but I want to find a path forward to restore the health of the water.”

As a cattleman himself, Drummond stands in staunch opposition to cattle thievery. “I made a pledge when I took office that I was going to elevate the prosecution of cattle thievery in Oklahoma,” he said. “Our District Attorneys sometimes are just not motivated because it is difficult. We’ve just completed a very difficult investigation, so what I want to say to producers out there, you know your industry, and you know your cattle, so the moment that you discover that something has been stolen, report it to the District Attorney’s Office or if you want to go directly to the Attorney General’s office, you can go to the website and report it. We will give it an investigation number and we will investigate it.”

He noted that timely data is important to the success of investigations and especially prosecutions. “We only need to put ten or fifteen of these rascals in prison for a good bit of time to demotivate the other career criminals out there.”

He concluded the conversation with the following statement:

“You have an Attorney General who is absolutely committed to rural Oklahoma. I live in Hominy, Oklahoma, Osage County. My children live in Osage County. We recognize the values that rural Oklahomans bring to Oklahoma. I love that about my heritage. I am your advocate. I am your fighter, and I intend to work my tail off to be your governor. Once you have an Ag-based governor in the Capitol, you will have a friend for the next eight years.”

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