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Drummond Concedes to Hunter in Runoff for GOP Attorney General Nomination

Matt Trotter
/
KWGS

An announcement Wednesday afternoon by Gentner Drummond put to an end an incredibly close runoff election for the Republican nomination for Oklahoma attorney general.

"After considering whether to seek a recount and researching what that would entail, I’ve decided that instead, we would concede the election today in an effort to bring unity to the Republican party," Drummond said at a news conference at the Tulsa Press Club. "The upcoming elections are critically important to the future of Oklahoma, and a statewide recount would simply serve as a prolonging distraction."

Drummond got more votes on Election Day but trails incumbent Mike Hunter in absentee and early voting.

"The margin was historically close. There are provisional ballots yet to be counted and yet today we trail 269 votes out of 296,000 votes cast, or less than 0.1 percent," Drummond said.

Drummond said it does not appear a recount will make up the difference.

"To my opponent, Mr. Hunter, I want to say congratulations on a hard-fought victory and I wish you the very best of luck in November. Mr. Hunter has my support, and I’ve called him to confirm that," Drummond said.

Drummond’s wife, Wendy, said Hunter didn’t believe it really was his opponent on the phone at first.

Hunter will face Democrat Mark Myles in November.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.