Kevin Stitt
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| Kevin Stitt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Kevin Stitt |
| Birth date | 28 December 1972 |
| Birth place | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma State University |
| Occupation | Businessman, Politician |
| Party | Republican Party |
| Spouse | Sarah Stitt |
Kevin Stitt is an American businessman and politician who has served as the 28th governor of Oklahoma since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he founded the financial services firm Gateway Mortgage Group and emerged as a political figure in state executive politics by defeating established politicians in the 2018 gubernatorial election. His tenure has intersected with a range of policy areas including tax policy, criminal justice, Native American relations, and public health.
Early life and education
Stitt was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Norman, Oklahoma, where he attended local schools and participated in community organizations linked to Oklahoma State University feeder programs and Boy Scouts of America. He studied business at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he engaged with campus organizations and alumni networks connected to prominent Oklahoma figures and corporate entities. Early influences included regional entrepreneurs and state political figures from the Republican circles active in Oklahoma during the 1990s.
Business career
After leaving Oklahoma State University, Stitt founded Gateway Mortgage Group in 2000, a mortgage lending company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Under his leadership the company expanded into consumer lending, mortgage servicing, and partnerships with national lenders and regional banks such as Wells Fargo-linked channels and independent mortgage brokers. The firm navigated regulatory frameworks involving agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and engaged with mortgage markets influenced by fiscal policy decisions from the Federal Reserve System and legislation enacted by the United States Congress. Stitt’s business profile brought him into contact with trade associations, state chambers of commerce, and philanthropic organizations in Oklahoma.
Political career
Stitt launched a campaign for governor in 2017, aligning with prominent Republican leaders and garnering endorsements from state and national conservative organizations. He competed in the 2018 Republican primary against candidates including the late Mick Cornett, Drew Edmondson, and other statewide officeholders, ultimately prevailing in the general election over Drew Edmondson and securing the governorship. As governor, Stitt has interacted with federal officials from the Trump administration, members of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives representing Oklahoma, and governors from states such as Texas and Arkansas on regional initiatives.
Tenure as Governor of Oklahoma
As governor, Stitt has overseen executive actions affecting state agencies like the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. His administration worked with the Oklahoma Legislature—including leaders from both chambers—to pursue tax cuts, regulatory reform, and budgetary priorities. Stitt's office coordinated responses to natural disasters with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and interfaced with tribal governments from nations such as the Cherokee Nation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation on jurisdictional and public-safety matters. He also engaged with business leaders from Amazon (company), energy companies tied to Oklahoma Corporation Commission issues, and health-system executives amid public-health crises.
Policies and initiatives
Stitt promoted tax policy changes including reforms aimed at reducing individual income tax rates and adjusting state tax credits, working with fiscal conservatives and organizations like the American Legislative Exchange Council. In criminal justice, his initiatives included support for sentencing reforms, expansion of reentry programs in concert with nonprofit groups and national experts from institutions such as the Pew Charitable Trusts. On health issues, Stitt addressed the opioid epidemic through partnerships with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and expanded telehealth initiatives with regional hospitals and university medical centers. Economic development efforts emphasized attracting manufacturers and technology firms, coordinating incentive packages that involved state agencies and national corporations.
Controversies and legal matters
Stitt's tenure has involved legal disputes and public controversies, including litigation over tribal jurisdiction following the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision by the Supreme Court of the United States and ensuing agreements between the state and tribes such as the Cherokee Nation and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He faced scrutiny over executive actions and alleged conflicts of interest related to his financial holdings in private companies, prompting inquiries by state watchdogs and attention from media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Stitt also confronted criticism concerning public-health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic and legal challenges involving the balance of state and tribal authority, with cases appearing before federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Personal life
Stitt resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with his wife, Sarah Stitt, and their children. He participates in civic organizations and faith-based groups, has engaged with philanthropic projects tied to statewide charities and educational institutions such as Oklahoma State University and local community foundations, and maintains relationships with business and political networks spanning Oklahoma and national Republican circles.
Category:Governors of Oklahoma Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians Category:People from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma