President Donald Trump makes rare visit to Oklahoma ahead of midterm election
DURANT, Okla. —
The midterm elections are almost here, and President Donald Trump was in Oklahoma on Thursday making a push for Republican voters.
WATCH FULL: President Donald Trump gives speech at Choctaw Event Center in Durant
The president headlined a rally at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant after making a stop in Denton, Texas, earlier in the day.
>> Video Below: ‘Trump Country’: Oklahoma residents prepare as President Trump set to hold campaign rally in Durant
Midterm Rally in Oklahoma
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei said the rally is all about getting voters to the polls.
Along with Trump, some of the speakers include Mazzei, lieutenant governor candidate T.W. Shannon, and other Trump-backed candidates.
Mazzei and Trump say they are aligned on many issues, but not all. The Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate opposes importing foreign beef while supporting the president-backed smelter proposed for Inola.
Democrats say Trump’s visit to Oklahoma may signal Republican concern ahead of the midterms, but Republicans said they are confident that Trump’s visit will get the voters they need to the polls.
>> Video Below: Trump-backed Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei breaks with president on beef imports
More on the Oklahoma rally
Trump will make his first stop in Oklahoma since 2020, when he held a campaign rally in Tulsa. Trump will rally Republicans together in hopes of holding Republican control of Congress in both the House and Senate.
Candidates whom Trump has endorsed who are on Oklahomans’ ballots in November include all 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 U.S. House seat for Oklahoma’s First Congressional District.
Trump also has voiced his support for Kevin Hern, who is running for the U.S. Senate, 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 will take place hours after gubernatorial candidates tape debate
President Donald Trump’s message to Oklahomans
Trump recorded a message to Oklahomans ahead of his visit to the Sooner State.
Sen. James Lankford posted the video on his social media pages, thanking the president for his kind words while talking about the upcoming Tulsa State Fair.
“Hello to all the hardworking, freedom-loving patriots of the Tulsa State Fair. And, by the way, Tulsa happens to be located in a state that I love. It’s called Oklahoma. A place I won big all three times,” Trump said in the video.
>> Video Below: President Donald Trump sends message to Oklahomans ahead of visit
The president not only won Oklahoma during all three of his presidential campaigns, but he took all 77 counties each time.
“I want to thank Oklahoma for your support and a special thanks to a really, really excellent, great senator – James Lankford, friend of mine – along with 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 once occupied by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Sen. Alan Armstrong has filled the seat since Mullin joined Trump’s cabinet.
“And I want to thank you, Oklahoma. You’ve been a special place and a special state,” Trump said.
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