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On Monday, January 13, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced his intent to run for governor in the upcoming midterm election cycle. Drummond held a special event in the Osage County seat of Pawhuska to formally declare his intent. He has served as Attorney General for the last three years after winning the 2022 election with 73.8% of the vote.
Drummond Declares: Vision, Experience, and Support for 2026
“I’m here today because I believe we can make a great state greater than it’s ever been,” said Drummond at the event. “America’s best days are ahead of us, and the future of Oklahoma couldn’t be brighter,” adding, “As governor, I will keep standing strong with President Trump to secure our borders, deport illegals and stop the flow of drugs and crime.”
His law career extends nearly 30 years with experience in private practice and public office. Before his election as attorney general, he worked as an assistant district attorney in Pawnee and Osage counties. Drummond also is a veteran of the Air Force where he served as a fighter pilot during the Persian Gulf War.
As it currently stands, Drummond is the only candidate to stake their claim officially in the 2026 gubernatorial election. Notably, the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police, a union for law enforcement, has endorsed him.
A Complex Conservative: Gentner Drummond’s Record of Policy and Principle
Still in his first term, Drummond has already built a track record of highly conservative actions. In 2024, he put forth efforts to crack down on illegal immigration in the state with controversial House Bill 4090.
When it comes to the death penalty, Drummond usually promotes the practice. However, he deviated from his typical talking points in the case of Richard Glossip. Drummond came out in support of Glossip’s innocence by filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court. He did not mimic this support with Julius Jones, whose involvement in a 1999 murder is shrouded in reasonable doubt.
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Although he is a conservative, Gentner Drummond isn’t afraid of disagreeing with his Republican colleagues. He vocalized his concerns about Gov. Stitt’s decision to partner with Denmark on renewable energy projects. He has also sided with a bi-partisan group that wishes to investigate the leadership choices of State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
The Drummond Dynasty: Wealth, Power, and Controversy in Oklahoma
Gentner Drummond is but one member of an extensive family that has significant wealth and control in the state. His cousin Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, brought publicity to the small town of Pawhuska. Ree and Gentner Drummond’s success has roots predating statehood. The first Drummond ancestor to establish the family in Indian Territory was Frederick Drummond, a Scottish emigrant.
As the family grew in both wealth and influence, they began to acquire land. Some of which they obtained from William K. Hale, a main figure in the novel Killers of the Flower Moon. This sordid exchange would come back to haunt future Drummonds when the novel was made into a major motion picture.
In 2017, the family was one of the largest land-owning entities in the state and country. Collectively, they owned 433,000 acres of land across Oklahoma, mainly in Osage County.
Five years later, Drummond brothers Ladd and Tim went head to head with the Osage Nation. The cause of the conflict was the Drummond’s wish to privatize nearly 15 miles of roads surrounding the family ranch. The brothers claimed that someone had shot some of their cattle and caused other instances of “mischief.” Ultimately, Osage County Commissioners dismissed the proposal.
As Gentner Drummond prepares for the 2026 gubernatorial race, his blend of conservative policies, family legacy, and political experience will likely make him a formidable contender. With significant support from key groups and a history of navigating complex political issues, his campaign promises to be one of Oklahoma’s most closely watched in years. The coming months will reveal whether Drummond’s vision for the state resonates with voters across party lines.
I believe Ree Drummond is related only by her marriage to Ladd Drummond. She is not his cousin.