Republican Runoff: August 25
Republican Runoff: August 25
For years, too many of Oklahoma’s politicians have accepted mediocrity — settling for missed opportunities, bureaucratic delays, and failed promises that hold back families, businesses, and communities.
As a combat veteran, successful businessman, and conservative outsider, Gentner is running for Governor to rebuild Oklahoma’s economy leveraging our rich history of pioneering, collaboration, resilience, delivering real results, rewarding hard work, and putting Oklahoma First.
His goal? To make Oklahoma one of the leading states in the nation for businesses, workforce preparedness, and rural economic growth, with a pipeline of skilled workers and a level playing field that puts local businesses first.
Oklahoma’s economy is growing too slow, it’s too complicated, and too disconnected from the real needs of workers and job creators.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Support the Legislature’s plan to responsibly eliminate the state income tax while keeping other taxes low and slash permitting times and red tape that kill investment
● End the obsession with big corporate handouts and start backing our own
● Bring jobs and opportunity across the entire state of Oklahoma
● Expand the use of targeted performance audits to hold agencies accountable for results, not just compliance
● Streamline state government, delivering on-time and cost effective services to all
Oklahoma’s tribal nations are among the state’s largest employers, landowners, and investors, especially in rural communities. But the lack of coordination and true partnership are holding back shared economic potential.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Establish a Tribal Opportunity Council focused on aligning state and tribal efforts to unlock Oklahoma’s real potential to have a skilled workforce, supported by better health care, increased public safety, and infrastructure
● Partner with tribes to expand access to job training, credentialing, and career pathways in underserved areas
● Support joint solutions for veteran employment, rural staffing gaps, and technical trades education
Site readiness is the #1 factor in attracting companies. Too many Oklahoma communities lack the basics: water, roads, broadband, and zoning approvals.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Increase certification of industrial and commercial sites by the end of his first term — fully ready to build
● Use PREP funds, infrastructure bonds, and local partnerships to fast-track development
● Create a public “Oklahoma Ready Sites Dashboard” to increase transparency and market competitiveness
● Establish 25 “Economic Growth Zones” with pre-approved environmental clearances and permitting
Oklahoma’s CareerTech system is strong, but it doesn’t have enough seats to meet demand. Gentner will dramatically expand access and increase certifications in high demand industries like aerospace, energy and agriculture.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Invest in major CareerTech expansion, including satellite campuses, facility upgrades, and instructor capacity, to eliminate waitlists and expand high school enrollment
● Expand CareerTech scholarships for adult learners, veterans, and career changers
● Build 12 Regional Workforce Hubs that offer training, child care, job placement, and transportation support under one roof
● Ensure at least 50% of workforce funds go directly to hands-on training and apprenticeships — not bureaucracy
Alignment between high schools, colleges, Universities, CareerTech and businesses must be a high priority.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Launch a Statewide Workforce Pathways Council to align curriculum and certifications across K-12, CareerTech, and higher education
● Empower career counselors in every district to play a larger role in helping students identify high-demand job paths, not just college options
● Create community-specific workforce plans based on regional industry needs
● Support expansion of early pathways in middle and high schools, especially in health care, trades, energy, and advanced manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy, and Oklahoma must lead, not lag.
Drummond will:
● Launch an AI Workforce Readiness Initiative to train workers, students, and businesses in practical AI applications for trades, agriculture, health care, and manufacturing
● Partner with Oklahoma universities and CareerTech to offer micro-credentials and rapid training in AI-powered tools
● Ensure no Oklahoma worker is left behind by offering upskilling and retraining options to adapt to a changing job market
● Protect student privacy and workforce data from misuse in AI systems
Rural Oklahoma has been forgotten for too long. Gentner will take opportunity on the road, literally.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Launch a branded mobile workforce RV that travels to all 77 counties, providing on-the-spot training and job placement events
● Partner with CareerTech and local businesses to offer fast-track training and direct hiring
● Use this Roadshow to market Oklahoma’s workforce to the world, while serving our own people first
In Oklahoma today, it can take months, even years, to get the permits needed to start a business or expand a facility. Gentner will change that.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Pass a “60-Day Greenlight Guarantee”: permits must be approved or denied within 60 days, or they are automatically greenlit
● Streamline commercial building, zoning, and environmental approvals with digital tools and fixed timelines
● Launch a Small Business Support Team to help new entrepreneurs get launched quickly
● Create a “Freedom to Build” fast-track option for housing, manufacturing, and energy projects in pre-cleared zones
Gentner Drummond believes Oklahoma’s business incentive programs should benefit Oklahoma companies — not global conglomerates with no loyalty to our state.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Create a $100M Oklahoma First Fund to support homegrown businesses in key industries
● Require that 75% of incentives go to companies headquartered and hiring in Oklahoma
● Tie state investment incentive programs to performance metrics with clawbacks for failure
Too many rural towns are not creating opportunities for the next generation.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Offer zero-interest relocation loans and rural housing tax credits to help skilled workers move to small towns
● Invest in rural childcare, local infrastructure, and broadband access to support workforce participation
● Launch rural entrepreneurship grants for local startups and remote workers
● Prioritize working with local economic developers and local chambers of commerce in all state job-creation efforts
Oklahoma doesn’t need more government, it needs better government.
Drummond’s Plan:
● Modernize the state’s transparency dashboard and consolidate all incentives, contracts, and grants in one place
● Empower the State Auditor to expand performance audits of high-spend programs and agencies
● Create a “One Door” system to help job creators and job seekers access all programs
● Increase legislative oversight of rollover funds and discretionary accounts that avoid scrutiny
Gentner Drummond is not running to tinker with the old system. He’s running to rebuild it with bold conservative reforms, pro-growth policies, and a relentless commitment to the people of Oklahoma.
