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2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican governor Kevin Stitt was re-elected to a second term, with 55.5% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Joy Hofmeister.[1]
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Although Stitt won by a comfortable margin, and even expanded his margin from 2018, his performance was the worst of any 2022 Republican candidate for statewide office in Oklahoma. Stitt also lost three counties that voted Republican in the 2020 U.S. presidential race: Cleveland, Oklahoma, and Tulsa. Meanwhile, Hofmeister's performance was the second best of any 2022 Democratic statewide candidate in Oklahoma, only behind State Superintendent of Public Instruction nominee Jena Nelson.
The primary elections for the Republican and Democratic parties' nominations took place on June 28, 2022.[2] The deadline for candidates to file was April 15, 2022.[2]
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Republican primary
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Candidates
Ervin Yen, former state senator from the 40th District, was the first to declare their campaign for the Republican Party of Oklahoma's nomination on November 8, 2020.[3] Yen later publicly announced on October 19, 2021, that he was leaving the Republican Party of Oklahoma. He criticized the party's opposition to mask and vaccine mandates for COVID-19, saying, "The Oklahoma GOP has left me."[4]
Incumbent Kevin Stitt was reported as joining the race in January 2021 after officially filing for re-election.[5]
Mark Sherwood, a naturopath, was reported as joining the race in September 2021. His platform included a "zero tolerance policy" for vaccine and mask mandates. He stated, "I believe the concept of vaccine and mask mandates needs to end."[6]
Joel Kintsel announced his candidacy on April 7. Moira McCabe was reported to have launched their campaign around the same time.[7]
In early June, Stitt's campaign pulled one of its commercials after Oklahoma County District Attorney, David Prater announced an investigation into whether it violated state law for featuring Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor. While pulling the ad, the campaign maintained they were "confident that it is an acceptable campaign ad focused on the Governor's accomplishments and fulfilled campaign promises."[8]
Incumbent Kevin Stitt won the June 28 Republican primary.
Nominee
- Kevin Stitt, incumbent governor (2019–present)[5][9]
Eliminated in primary
- Joel Kintsel, director of the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs and former Oklahoma House of Representatives’ parliamentarian[10][7]
- Moira McCabe, stay-at-home mom[10]
- Mark Sherwood, naturopath and former Tulsa Police Department officer[11][6]
Withdrew before filing
Declined
- T. W. Shannon, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (2013–2014) and former state representative (2007–2015)[13] (running for the Class 2 U.S. Senate seat)
Endorsements
Mark Sherwood
State senators
- Warren Hamilton, state senator from the 7th district (2021–present)[14]
- Jake Merrick, state senator from the 22nd district (2021–2022)[14]
State representatives
- John Bennett, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party (2021–2022) and former state representative for the 2nd district (2011–2019)[14]
Individuals
- Jackson Lahmeyer, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2022[6]
Kevin Stitt
U.S. Executive Branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)[15]
State senators
- George Burns, 5th district (2020–present)[16]
- Julie Daniels, 29th district (2016–present)[16]
- Jessica Garvin, 43rd district (2020–present)[16]
- John Haste, 36th district (2018–present)[16]
- Brent Howard, 38th district (2019–present)[16]
- Darcy Jech, 26th district (2014–present)[16]
- Shane Jett, 17th district (2020–present)[16]
- Chris Kidd, 31st district (2016–present)[16]
- James Leewright, 12th district (2016–2022)[16]
- John Michael Montgomery, 32nd district (2019–2023)[16]
- Casey Murdock, 27th district (2019–present)[16]
- Joe Newhouse, 25th district (2016–present)[16]
- Lonnie Paxton, 23rd district (2016–present)[16]
- Roland Pederson, 19th district (2016–present)[16]
- Adam Pugh, 41st district (2016–present)[16]
- Marty Quinn, 2nd district (2014–2022)[16]
- Dave Rader, 29th district (2017–present)[16]
- Cody Rogers, 37th district (2020–present)[16]
- Paul Rosino, 45th district (2017–present)[16]
- Brenda Stanley, 42nd district (2019–present)[16]
- Zack Taylor, 5th district (2021–2022)[16]
- Roger Thompson, 8th district (2015–present)[16]
State representatives
- Jeff Boatman, 67th district (2018–present)[16]
- Brad Boles, 51st district (2018–present)[16]
- Chad Caldwell, 40th district (2014–present)[16]
- Sherrie Conley, 20th district (2018–present)[16]
- Rusty Cornwell, 6th district (2018–present)[16]
- Denise Crosswhite Hader, 41st district (2018–present)[16]
- Dean Davis, 98th district (2019–present)[16]
- Sheila Dills, 69th district (2018–2022)[16]
- Mike Dobrinski, 59th district (2020–present)[16]
- Jon Echols, 90th district (2012–present)[16]
- Avery Frix, 13th district (2017–2022)[16]
- Jim Grego, 17th district (2018–present)[16]
- Kyle Hilbert, 29th district (2017–present)[16]
- Brian Hill, 47th district (2019–present)[16]
- Justin Humphrey, 19th district (2017–present)[16]
- Chris Kannady, 91st district (2014–present)[16]
- Gerrid Kendrix, 52nd district (2020–present)[16]
- Dell Kerbs, 26th district (2016–present)[16]
- Mark Lawson, 30th district (2016–present)[16]
- Mark Lepak, 9th district (2014–present)[16]
- Dick Lowe, 56th district (2020–present)[16]
- T. J. Marti, 75th district (2018–present)[16]
- Ryan Martinez, 39th district (2016–2023)[16]
- Stan May, 80th district (2018–present)[16]
- Mark McBride, 53rd district (2012–present)[16]
- Kevin McDugle, 12th district (2016–present)[16]
- Nicole Miller, 82nd district (2019–present)[16]
- Garry Mize, 31st district (2018–2022)[16]
- Anthony Moore, 57th district (2020–present)[16]
- Jim Olsen, 2nd district (2019–present)[16]
- Mike Osburn, 81st district (2016–present)[16]
- Daniel Pae, 62nd district (2018–present)[16]
- John Pfeiffer, 38th district (2014–present)[16]
- Logan Phillips, 24th district (2018–2022)[16]
- Randy Randleman, 15th district (2018–present)[16]
- Lonnie Sims, 68th district (2018–present)[16]
- Chris Sneed, 14th district (2018–present)[16]
- Marilyn Stark, 100th district (2018–present)[16]
- Danny Sterling, 27th district (2018–present)[16]
- Preston Stinson, 96th district (2020–present)[16]
- Tammy Townley, 48th district (2018–present)[16]
- Kevin Wallace, 32nd district (2015–present)[16]
- Max Wolfley, 95th district (2020–present)[16]
Newspaper
Organizations
- National Right to Life Committee[18]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[19][20]
- Oklahoma Farm Bureau[21]
- Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights[22]
- Republican Governors Association[23]
Polling
Results
Stitt
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
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Democratic primary
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Former state senator Connie Johnson was the first Democrat to enter the race, officially declaring her candidacy on July 6, 2021. Her platform included expanding access to healthcare, revitalizing Oklahoma's infrastructure, pursuing criminal justice reforms like banning the death penalty, support for reproductive rights, and legalizing marijuana (marijuana is currently legal in Oklahoma for medicinal purposes, but is illegal for recreational use). A political progressive, Johnson was the only Oklahoma superdelegate who supported Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary.[28][29]
On October 7, 2021, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister announced her plans to switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party and run for governor. Hofmeister had first been elected as a Republican in 2014 and 2018. This marked the first time since 2011 that a Democrat held a statewide elected position in Oklahoma. Hofmeister had frequently clashed with Republican governor Kevin Stitt during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, she opposed the decision by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, whose members were appointed by Stitt, to forego imposing a mask mandate on schools.[30] Her platform included increasing education funding, investing in infrastructure, expanding mental health services, sentencing reform, and support for abortion rights.[31]
Johnson was openly skeptical of Hofmeister's decision to change parties, calling it a "big hoax." She pointed out that Hofmeister could still switch back to the Republican Party after being elected.[31] However, other Democrats in the state were more receptive, with the Oklahoma Democratic Party issuing a statement welcoming Hofmeister to the party.[32] Oklahoma Democratic Party chair Alicia Andrews admitted she was suspicious at first, but after talking with Hofmeister she became convinced that Hofmeister's intentions were good. Hofmeister emphasized that she was not changing her political beliefs, just her party, and is considerably more moderate in comparison to Johnson.[33] Andrews commented that they were "two very different candidates," and they gave Democratic voters "a real choice. If you don’t have a super progressive bent and maybe Connie scares you because she is so progressive, you have Joy. If Joy is too moderate, you have Connie."[29]
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Connie Johnson, former state senator (2006–2014), former vice chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party (2015–2016), nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and candidate for governor in 2018[35][28]
Declined
- Monroe Nichols, state representative (2016–present)[36]
- Anastasia Pittman, former state senator (2014–2018) and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 2018 (running for Oklahoma County Commission)[37][38]
Polling
Results
Hofmeister
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
Johnson
- 50–60%
- 70–80%
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General election
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Candidates
- Natalie Bruno, digital marketing strategy executive (Libertarian)[10]
- Joy Hofmeister (Democratic)
- Kevin Stitt (Republican)
- Ervin Yen, physician and former Republican state senator (2014–2018) (independent)[3][12]
Declared but failed to file
- Paul Tay, perennial candidate (independent)[40][b]
Debates
Post-primary endorsements
Kevin Stitt (R)
U.S. senators
Statewide officials
- Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida (2019–present)[44]
- Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia (2022–present)[45]
State representatives
Logan Phillips, 24th district (2018–present)(rescinded endorsement and endorsed Hofmeister) [16]
Labor unions
- Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police[46]
Joy Hofmeister (D)
U.S. representatives
- J. C. Watts, former U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 4th congressional district and former chair of the House Republican Conference (Republican)[47]
Statewide officials
- Rita Aragon, former Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2011–2019)[48]
- Brad Henry, Governor of Oklahoma (2003–2011)[49]
- Michael C. Thompson, Adjutant General of Oklahoma (2017–2021), Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (2011–2017)[50]
State senators
- George E. Young, 48th district (2019–present)[51]
State representatives
- Arturo Alonso, member-elect 89th district[52]
- Mickey Dollens, 93rd district (2016–present)[51]
- Logan Phillips, 24th district (2018–present) (Republican) [53]
Tribal nations
- Cherokee Nation[54]
- Chickasaw Nation[54]
- Choctaw Nation[54]
- Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma[55]
- Muscogee Nation[54]
- Seminole Nation of Oklahoma[54]
Tribal officials
- Bill Anoatubby, 30th governor of Chickasaw Nation (1987–present)[56]
- Gary Batton, 47th chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (2014–present) (Republican) [56]
- David Hill, 7th Principal Chief of Muscogee Nation (2019–present)[57]
- Chuck Hoskin Jr., 8th Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation (2019–present)[58]
- Lewis Johnson, 28th chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (2021–present)[57]
- Lisa Johnson Billy, Speaker of the Chickasaw Nation Legislature (2022–present), former state representative from the 42nd district (2004–2016) (Republican)[59]
- Lawrence SpottedBird, Kiowa Tribal Chairman (2022–present)[55]
Individuals
- Myles Deering, adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard[48]
Newspapers
- The Black Wall Street Times[60]
- Clinton Daily News[61]
- Hennessey Clipper[62]
- Johnston County Sentinel[63]
- Tulsa World[64]
Labor unions
Local officials
- April Grace, Superintendent of Shawnee schools and Republican primary candidate for Oklahoma state Superintendent in 2022 (Republican)[67]
Organizations
- Democratic Governors Association[68]
- Edmond Democratic Women[69]
- Oklahoma Medical Political Action Committee[70]
Predictions
Polling
Aggregate polls
Graphical summary
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Results
By county
By congressional district
Stitt won four of five congressional districts, with Hofmeister winning the remaining one, which elected a Republican.[102]
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See also
Notes
- Paul Tay was arrested on August 23, 2021 and charged with kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and rape.[41] The charges were later dropped in early August 2022, nearly a year after his arrest.[42]
Partisan clients
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References
External links
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