Lawyers suing State Farm donated to Drummond, State Farm agents donated to Mazzei

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Both Mike Mazzei and Gentner Drummond have received donations from people adjacent to the state's ongoing lawsuit against insurance giant State Farm—and a closer look at their campaign finance records reveals a striking contrast in who is funding each campaign.

Since June's primary, Mazzei's campaign raised almost $950,000 from donors, while Drummond's campaign raised just under $3 million.

About 2.5 percent of Mazzei's donations came from political action committees, with the rest from individual donors. Drummond's share of PAC money sits slightly higher at about 6 percent.

When it comes to where their donors live, about 4.5 percent of Mazzei's donors either live out of state or didn't list where they live—a similar split to Drummond, whose out-of-state or unknown donors make up about 7 percent.

Drummond has about twice as many individual donors as Mazzei—more than 1,200 to Mazzei's fewer than 600.

Breaking down by profession, the largest share of Mazzei's donors are business owners or other top-level executives. People in the legal profession—like lawyers and prosecutors—make up the largest share of Drummond's donors.

Of note—Drummond received six separate donations from attorneys at the firm Whitten Burrage, the same firm the state hired to represent Oklahoma in its ongoing lawsuit against State Farm, accusing the insurance giant of secretly and systematically shortchanging homeowners on hail and wind damage claims.

Drummond's office is the one prosecuting that lawsuit.

In total, lawyers at Whitten Burrage donated $21,000 to Drummond's campaign since the primary.

News 4 reached out to Drummond's office with specific questions about the donations and whether they hold any influence over his role in the lawsuit.

His campaign responded: "The Attorney General's Office contracted with Whitten Burrage because of the firm's extensive experience with State Farm and similar complex litigation. Gentner Drummond has raised more money than any candidate for statewide office in Oklahoma history, by far. People who have worked alongside Gentner and witnessed his character, ethics and leadership firsthand are among those supporting him. That should surprise no one. At a time when Oklahoma faces serious challenges, people across this state recognize that Gentner is the leader with the strength, experience and independence to tackle them. Oklahomans have rallied behind Gentner Drummond at a level we have never seen before in a statewide campaign because they believe he is the leader Oklahoma needs. Trying to make contributions to his campaign into anything other than a show of support is not news, it is an election-cycle exercise."

Meanwhile, Mazzei's campaign has its own State Farm-adjacent donors.

In the six weeks after Drummond sued State Farm, nine different State Farm agents donated to Mazzei's campaign—including a State Farm executive who lists his title as a "Management Corp" vice president.

After that first wave, three more agents gave on the exact same day—July 23.

State Farm agents make up by far the largest share of insurance agents who donated to Mazzei.

Not a single State Farm agent donated to Drummond.

News 4 reached out to Mazzei's campaign with specific questions about whether State Farm agents are essentially buying influence with Mazzei.

His campaign's statement didn't address any of those questions, but said: "After a tragic car accident, Mike Mazzei sued State Farm for failing to honor their agreement to pay his medical bills, so Drummond's claim that Mike won't hold insurance companies accountable is a desperate lie. Drummond is attacking Mike to distract from his own record of suing farmers and ranchers, operating one of Oklahoma's largest marijuana banks, and refusing to enforce Oklahoma's ban on transgender surgery on children."

State Farm agents also donated to a candidate in the state insurance commissioner's race—records show eight different State Farm agents donated a total of just over $3,000 to Republican candidate Marty Quinn between June 25 and August 10.

News 4 asked Quinn about it when the two sat down for an interview.

"And yours—it's largely insurance companies and PACs and a lot of State Farm, who I know is going through that lawsuit right now," News 4 said. "So for people—"

"By State Farm, what do you mean by that?" Quinn said.

"Different State Farm agents," News 4 said.

"Okay. So there's a difference between the company and agents that live in these communities that are business people just like everybody else," Quinn said.

"But for people who see that and look at that and see that you have the support of a lot of people in the insurance business and maybe see that and are a little bit concerned—is he really going to stand up against these companies?" News 4 asked. "What's your elevator pitch to these people who see that and are concerned?"

"That the evidence is in my legislative career," Quinn said. "Whether it's taxes, whether it's any of the other things that are important to individuals—in that legislative record that I have, you can go see it's black and white."