Kevin Stitt

Kevin Stitt
Name	Kevin Stitt
Caption	Official portrait, 2019
Order	28th
Office	Governor of Oklahoma
Lieutenant	Matt Pinnell
Term start	January 14, 2019
Predecessor	Mary Fallin
Party	Republican
Spouse	Sarah Hazen, 1998
Alma mater	Oklahoma State University
Birth date	28 December 1972
Birth place	Milton, Florida, U.S.

Kevin Stitt is an American businessman and politician serving as the 28th Governor of Oklahoma since January 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he is the first Muscogee (Creek) citizen to hold the office. His tenure has focused on economic development, education reform, and conservative policy initiatives, often drawing national attention for his stances on issues like pandemic response and tribal sovereignty.

Early life and education

Kevin Stitt was born in Milton, Florida, but moved to Norman as a child. He graduated from Norman High School before attending Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. At Oklahoma State University, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and earned a degree in accounting in 1996. His early career included a brief stint as a bank teller at Bank of Oklahoma in Tulsa.

Business career

After working in the mortgage division of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Stitt founded Gateway Mortgage Group in 2000 in Tulsa. Starting with a small team, he grew the company into one of the largest privately held mortgage lenders in the United States, operating in over 40 states. The company, later renamed Gateway First Bank, expanded through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of the Community Federal Savings and Loan Association of Tulsa. His business background became a central theme in his subsequent political campaigns.

Political career

Stitt entered the 2018 gubernatorial race as a political outsider, defeating former Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett and Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn in the Republican primary. In the general election, he faced Drew Edmondson, the former Attorney General, and won with approximately 54% of the vote. His campaign emphasized his executive experience at Gateway Mortgage Group and promised to bring a business-minded approach to state government in Oklahoma City.

Governor of Oklahoma

Stitt was sworn into office on January 14, 2019, succeeding Mary Fallin. Key events of his administration include signing into law one of the nation's strictest abortion bans, overseeing the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and engaging in protracted legal disputes with several Native American tribes, including the Cherokee Nation and the Choctaw Nation, over issues of gaming compacts and jurisdiction. He was re-elected in the 2022 election, defeating Joy Hofmeister, the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction. His administration has also prioritized appointments to the Oklahoma Supreme Court and infrastructure projects.

Political positions

Stitt is a fiscal and social conservative. He has advocated for and signed multiple tax cuts, including reductions to the state's corporate tax and personal income tax. He is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights and signed constitutional carry legislation. On energy policy, he is a vocal advocate for the oil and gas industry and has been critical of the Biden administration's energy policies. His relationship with sovereign tribal nations has been a defining and contentious aspect of his governorship, marked by disagreements over the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision.

Personal life

Stitt is married to Sarah Hazen, and the couple has six children. They are members of the Life.Church evangelical Christian network based in Edmond. He is an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. His family resides in the Governor's Mansion in Oklahoma City.

Category:Governors of Oklahoma Category:Republican Party governors of Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma State University alumni Category:People from Norman, Oklahoma