Each department is headed by a secretary appointed by the governor and is responsible for carrying out his executive orders throughout their department. color:white; Markwayne Mullin will become Oklahoma's next U.S. Speaking to supporters Tuesday night after she had conceded, Hofmeister repeated her call for bipartisanship. Succeeded to Governorship upon Edmondson's resignation. He or she shall communicate to the legislature, at each regular session, each case of reprieve, commutation, parole, or pardon granted, stating the name of the convict, the crime of which he or she was convicted, the date and place of conviction, and the date of commutation, pardon, parole, and reprieve. The secretary of state is appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate for a term of four years to run concurrently with the term of the governor. Kevin Stitt was reelected governor of Oklahoma on Tuesday, beating Republican-turned-Democrat Joy Hofmeister and an onslaught of "dark money"-funded attacks as voters endorsed his first term when he governed as a CEO-minded leader who challenged political norms and aggressively worked to privatize parts of government. Thats because Stitts Democratic opponent, Joy Hofmeister, the superintendent of Oklahomas public school system, was a lifelong Republican until last year. RealClearPolitics - Election 2022 - Oklahoma Governor - Stitt vs. Hofmeister Despite being an executive branch official, the governor also possesses legislative and judicial powers. Oklahoma political analysts suspect Hofmeisters party switch has paid dividends in a race where most Democrats wouldnt stand a fighting chance. This power extends to all federal representatives of Oklahoma, including United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, in which case the governor calls for special elections to fill the remainder of the term. To prepare for all potential emergencies, the governor may procure supplies and equipment in accordance with the EOP. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { Hofmeister has hammered Stitt, himself a member of the Cherokee Nation, for alienating the tribes and trying to restructure the compacts that have long been in place. Ballot measures, Who represents me? padding-left: 0; If, for any reason, the governor is unable to exercise his or her powers and discharge the duties of the office and the Lieutenant Governor, President pro tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House are unable to act as governor, then the next official in the line of succession becomes the emergency interim successor. While Indian Territory remained under the semi-independence of the Indian nations, the Oklahoma Territory was organized territory under the supervision of the United States Congress. The governor filed a proclamation with the Oklahoma Secretary of State a few days after Inhofe submitted a letter stipulating to his "irrevocable resignation" on Jan. 3, 2023, which is when . Im aggressively moderate. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Incumbent Kevin Stitt defeated Joy Hofmeister, Natalie Bruno, and Ervin Yen in the general election for Governor of Oklahoma on November 8, 2022. margin-top: 1em; This will be Johnson's second gubernatorial run after losing the 2018 Democratic primary to former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson. The Florida governor is already scheduled to headline two Republican fundraisers in Texas on Saturday. However, such a change or adjournment shall be concurred in by a two-thirds vote of all the members of each branch of the legislature. On Monday, DeSantis endorsed him, and on Tuesday, Cruz is holding a rally for him in Oklahoma City. background: #4c4c4c; I was a Republican longer than Governor Stitt was registered to vote, she tells TIME. } October polling from Oklahoma-based Ascend Action shows Joy Hofmeister (D) with a 7-point lead on incumbent Governor Kevin Stitt (R). To assist the governor in fulfilling his or her emergency power, the governor may establish such offices, boards, agencies, or positions as deemed necessary to carry his or her orders into effect. Pending the presentation of charges, the governor may suspend such officers for a period not to exceed thirty days. 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212 In Oklahoma City, Republican Gov. .inner_percentage.Green { Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. Oklahoma's SQLI ranking was in the bottom-10 for many years of the study, finishing 44th in 1994 at its lowest. RepublicanKevin Stitt DemocraticJoy Hofmesiter LibertarianNatalie Bruno RepublicanErvin Yen Latest 2022 Gubernatorial polls EXCLUSIVE T he Democratic candidate running to be Oklahoma's next governor appears to have "violated" several state laws due to her social media activity, legal experts told the . position: relative; left: 0; [3], The governor was the head of the Government of the Territory. Assumed office: 2019-01-14, The Governor of the State of Oklahoma is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Oklahoma. .race_header, .results_text, .results_table_container, .votebox_legend { | Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma incumbent Matt Pinnell (R), Melinda Alizadeh-Ford (D), and Chris Powell (L) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. But as Hofmeisters campaign has been building momentum, more Republicans have been coming to Stitts rescue. Stitt received 55% of the vote, compared to Hofmeister's 42%, according to the state Election Board. .electionsectionheading { .votebox-covid-disclaimer { @media screen and (max-width: 350px) { The governor is vested with supreme executive power as the state's Chief Magistrate and acts as head of the Executive department of Oklahoma, granting him or her the ability to issue executive orders which are binding throughout the State of Oklahoma. In Oklahoma, which is one of the reddest states in the nation, the issue of education may be turning out a little differently because the Democrat running for governor is catching up on the . width: 50%; Any vacancy resulting from removal or suspension shall be filled by the governor until it is filled as provided by state law. Yet Stitts fight with the tribes was just the first in a string of controversies, some of them tied to his handling of Covid. Basically, it just united all the tribes here in Oklahoma, David Hill, the principal chief of the Muscogee Nation, tells TIME. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt was supposed to cruise to re-election. He has been assailed on-air for prison commutations he's made and for a rocky relationship, Stitt who is an enrolled member of Cherokee Nation has with the Big Tribes in the state. Lev RadinPacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images, New York Governor's Race Is Too Close for Democrats' Comfort, How We Can Learn to Live with COVID-19 After Vaccinations. Incumbent Kevin Stitt defeated Joy Hofmeister, Natalie Bruno, and Ervin Yen in the general election for Governor of Oklahoma on November 8, 2022. [1], Oklahoma Constitution, Article VI, Section 4, "I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, and that I will not, knowingly, receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing, for the performance or nonperformance of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by law; I further swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge my duties as Governor of the State of Oklahoma to the best of my ability.". "We all know I have upset powerfulspecial interest groups becauseI will never back down," Stitt said. She will challenge Republican Gov. Tulsa World, "Oklahoma tribes might be more active in 2022 governor's race," by Bob Doucette, Nov 22, 2021 KFOR-4-TV Oklahoma's News, "Reactions to State of Oklahoma's execution of John Grant by lethal injection," by Hicham Raache, Oct 28, 2021 The Frontier, "Hofmeister is running as a Democrat. In their respective victory speeches, Stitt and Hofmeister briefly criticized each other, although the governor did not name his opponent. 270 = number of electoral votes necessary to WIN the Presidential election! Before statehood in 1907, modern-day Oklahoma was composed of the Oklahoma and Indian Territories. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, the official state election office . } West Virginia's Republican state auditor announced Tuesday that he will run for governor next year. "The biggest factor here has got to be the money," Lisle said. vertical-align: middle; Since nearby Texas doesnt have gaming, Oklahomas southern border is littered with casinos, including the worlds largest casino is in Thackerville. color: #0645ad; Where do his opponents stand on abortion? He is passionate about the students of Oklahoma and advocating for their immediate and long-term success. [18], There have been 28 governors of Oklahoma since 1907. Walters, who is the governor's secretary of education and won by a similar margin as Stitt, ran a campaign centered on school choice and ridding classrooms of liberal indoctrination., "The fake news and liberal media told you the governor and I weren't going to win tonight but Oklahomans spoke loud and clear," Walters said from the same watch party as Stitt. Once three potential justices or judges are approved by the committee, the governor appoints one to serve on the court. Stitt has tried to make that a campaign issue, arguing that Hofmeister embraced school closures unnecessarily, which he claims is responsible for Oklahomas lagging test scores. In managing the emergency, the governor is fully authorized to cooperate with the federal government, with other states, and with private agencies in all matters pertaining to the emergency management of the state and of the nation. And prominent Republicans like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas are rushing to his side, as party leaders fear Oklahoma might be the site of one of the biggest upsets of the midterms. 538 = the total number of electoral votes in the Electoral College. padding-left: 10px; letter-spacing: 0.03em; An attorney from Oklahoma, Melinda L. Alizadeh-Fard is running for lieutenant governor of Oklahoma. He was reelected in 2022 to a term ending in 2027. Oklahoma's Nov. 8 General Election will decide many statewide, federal and local races. Its insulting to get sued with your own money.. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Oklahoma Superintendent of Instruction Joy Hofmeister, left. Feud with tribes threatens Oklahoma governor's reelection. U.S. President | Kevin Stitt Kevin Stitt has won the Republican primary for governor and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Joy Hofmeister, has won the Democratic primary for governor, according to race calls from The Associated Press. } The court battles amounted to a waste of taxpayer money, he went on, much of which comes from the tribes doing business in the state. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Counties | TULSA, Okla. Oklahoma Gov. More:Gentner Drummond wins attorney general's primary, beating Stitt's nominee, John O'Connor. If he or she disapproves of any part of the bill, the governor may send that part of the bill back to the legislature. During the years of the study, Oklahoma had both Democratic and Republican trifectas. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. .non_result_row { "We have planted seeds all across this state to get back to a place of civility, back to a place where we unite, Hofmeister said from inside the Oklahoma History Center. .non_result_row div { Kevin Stitt faces three primary opponents next Tuesday. background-color: green; "Without the continued barrage of negative hits on him, it seems that Republicans are coming back into the fold and supporting him.". All Rights Reserved. Hes a Republican running in a reliably red state; Donald Trump walloped Joe Biden there in 2020, drawing nearly two out of every three votes. These are healthcare decisions between a woman and her doctor. How the electoral college works. Jim . Oklahoma tribal leaders endorse Hofmeister, respond to dark money allegations, National political news site FiveThirtyEight, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [3], The executive branch of the territorys government was headed by the Governor of Oklahoma Territory. Oklahoma's legislature gave final approval Thursday to a bill that would require students at public schools and public charter schools in the state to use restrooms and locker rooms that match the . Although Monday was the filing deadline for the most recent campaign finance reports, fourth-quarter reports for state Sen. Connie Johnson, who is running for governor as a Democrat, and Republican Mark Sherwood were not available at press time. Your complete directory of Oklahoma candidates for Governor, State Cabinet, United State Senator and Congress in the current election cycle . padding-bottom: 7px; Suggest a missing candidate here. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the second Monday in the January following an election. There are 4 Democrats and 1 Republican (one is also a member of the New Progressive Party) as governor of United States Territories and Mayor of the District of Columbia. Hofmeister raised more than $1.1 million. [1]. text-align: center; Nine state executive offices were up for election in Oklahoma in 2022: Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General Treasurer Auditor Superintendent of Public Instruction Corporation Commissioner Insurance Commissioner Labor Commissioner Governor General election candidates Kevin Stitt (Incumbent) (Republican Party) State and local courts | Where do his opponents stand on abortion? The main change for Kelly is her running mate, after former Lt. Gov. And in 2020, shortly after the virus reached Americas shores, he spent roughly $1.8 million on personal protective equipment (PPE) that never arrived. .results_text { [12], In 2017, the governor received a salary of $147,000, according to the Council of State Governments. Stitt also signed into law one of the countrys most restrictive abortion bills, which has drawn some pushback even in conservative Oklahoma for its banning the procedure in cases of rape, incest and when the mothers health is at risk. The governor invited and signed bills into law that show no mercy for victims of rape or incest. Kevin Stitt won the Republican gubernatorial race in the state's primary election on Tuesday. The governor, from time to time, shall make such recommendations to the Legislature, to political subdivisions, and to other appropriate public and private entities as may facilitate measures to prevent or lessen the effects of emergencies. Elections in 2023 | The poll shows the race within the 4.4% margin of error. Organizations are considered partisan if they operate on behalf of a candidate, party, campaign committee, PAC, super PAC, hybrid PAC, 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5) or 501(c)(6) organization that conducts a large majority of its political activity on behalf of one political party. letter-spacing: .04em; Incumbents are bolded and underlined. } width: 35px !important; The October SoonerPoll showed Nelson leading Walters by nearly eight points. } } Oklahoma Gov. The Democratic Governors Association also took a shot at Stitt's administrationwhile the Republican Governors Association called Hofmeister apolitical opportunist for switching parties. position: relative; During a state of emergency, the governor is authorized to utilize the services, equipment, supplies, and facilities of all departments, offices, and agencies of the state to the maximum extent practicable. .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { display: block; width: 100% !important; Dr. Ervin Yen, an Oklahoma City anesthesiologist and former Republican . We knew this was coming. } .outer_percentage { An onslaught of attack ads against Stitt and significant spending in Hofmeister's favor appear to the driving force behind her surge in the polls. Fallin was re-elected, defeating Democratic candidate Joe Dorman, a state legislator. However, the part of which he or she approves becomes law. Republicans launch rescue mission in Oklahoma governor race The deep-red state has seen unusually close polling and unusually high spending in this year's gubernatorial election. border: 1px solid #999; Also, while a sitting governor was initially ineligible to serve for more than one consecutive term at a time, in 1975 Oklahomans amended the constitution to allow the governor to serve two consecutive terms. Of the 28 officeholders, six were Republican, and 22 were Democratic.[19]. "In our state, we are going to focus on teaching kids and not indoctrinating them," Stitt said. overflow-y: auto; .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h3.votebox-header-office-name { She highlighted recent financial scandals under his watch, including no-bid contracts awarded for restaurants at state parks and the use of pandemic relief funds that a federal audit said were improperly managed. [1], The Supreme Executive power shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate, who shall be styled "The Governor of the State of Oklahoma..", A candidate for the governorship must be:[1], Under Section Four in Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves a four-year term in office beginning on the second Monday in January. background-color: grey; "Governor Stitt is well positioned to out-perform his 2018 margins," according to the memo. Whenever a vacancy occurs within the legislature, the governor shall issue a writ of election to fill such vacancies. As state superintendent of public instruction, Joy has already led the fight for better education in Oklahoma. height: 56px; In the case of senators, the governor is empowered to immediately appoint someone to temporarily fill the vacant seat until a special election can be held. He also embraced many of the culture war issues that Republicans championed this past year, including bans on transgender women from playing sports and limiting the teaching of race in the classroom. How to run for office | Of these 13 members, the governor appoints six without the consent of the legislature. And he has criminalized standard health care, and invited miscarriage bounty hunters at $10,000 a fee, where an individual can sue their neighbor and collect a reward. } Updated Aug. 2, 2022, 8:00 PM ET. The governor is an ex officio chairman of many state commissions and committees, such as the Oklahoma Commissioners of Land Office, the Oklahoma Board of Education, and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. .inner_percentage.Democratic { Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. From 1992-2013, in Oklahoma there were Democratic governors in office for 11 years while there were Republican governors in office for 11 years, including the last three. The move created a major confrontation with a powerful constituency in the state. .inner_percentage { font-weight: 300; I think voters have a real desire, particularly in a governor's race, for candidates who are outside politics, Wilson said. "You have to remember that he came out of a pretty bruising runoff election," Lisle said. Apply today! width: 100% "By his own standards, the business of Oklahoma is failing. The governor had the power to appoint justices to the territorys supreme court. There were no incumbents in this race. Stitt's second term began on January 9, 2023 and will expire January 11, 2027; He will be term-limited. This time four years ago, Stitt was still a relatively obscure political newcomer that landed in the GOP gubernatorial runoff by touting his business acumen and outsider perspective. background-color: #003388; He's a Republican running in a reliably red state; Donald Trump walloped Joe Biden there in 2020, drawing nearly two out. padding-bottom: 5px; Stitt is also likely to continue pushing for school vouchers, an aggressive school choice plan that would allow families to use state tax dollars to pay for private school tuition. [6], See statutes: Title 74, Chapter 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The 28th and current governor is Kevin Stitt (R). In May, he signed into law a bill that was deemed at the time as the most restrictive abortion bill in the country, which effectively banned all abortions beginning at fertilization. J.C. Watts, a longtime face of Oklahoma's Republican Party, has endorsed the state's Democratic candidate for governor. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_governors_of_Oklahoma&oldid=1138961025, Lists of state governors of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 16:49. The governor, however, shall have power to grant after conviction, reprieves, or a leave of absence not to exceed 60 days, without the action of the board. .votebox { Stitt is up for reelection in November. Oklahoma Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Section Four in Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Oklahoma, Ballotpedia's state executive officials project, Title 74, Chapter 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes, States with gubernatorial recall provisions, Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries, State executive officials serving in home states, Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Governor_of_Oklahoma&oldid=9038636, Pages using DynamicPageList dplreplace parser function, State executive office pages without divisions sections, Offices of state executive officials by state, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections.