Kevin Stitt

Kevin Stitt
Stitt in 2022
Kevin Stitt
Born	John Kevin Stitt 28 12, 1972
Birthplace	Milton, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, politician
Title	28th Governor of Oklahoma
Known for	28th Governor of Oklahoma, founder of Gateway Mortgage Group
Education	Oklahoma State University, Stillwater (BS)
Children	6
Awards	Chair of the National Governors Association (2025–present)

John Kevin Stitt (born December 28, 1972) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 28th Governor of Oklahoma since January 14, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Stitt entered politics as an outsider with no prior experience in elected office, having built his career as the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Gateway Mortgage Group, a Tulsa-based mortgage company. He won the 2018 gubernatorial election by defeating Democrat and former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson with 54.3% of the vote, and secured reelection in 2022 by defeating Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister—a Republican who switched parties to challenge him—with 55.4% of the vote. Stitt succeeded Mary Fallin as governor, with Matt Pinnell serving as his lieutenant governor. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Stitt has described himself as a political outsider focused on running state government with the efficiency of a business. As of 2025, he serves as chair of the National Governors Association, a role that has placed him at the center of national discussions between state leaders and the federal government. He is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026.

Early Life

John Kevin Stitt was born on December 28, 1972, in Milton, Florida. He grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, where he was raised and attended school. Stitt is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

Details of his upbringing and family background during his childhood years in Norman are limited in publicly available records, though his Oklahoma roots became a central part of his political identity during his gubernatorial campaigns. He has frequently referenced his upbringing in Norman and his connections to the state as formative influences in both his business and political careers.

Education

Stitt attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. During his time at Oklahoma State, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. His accounting background would later inform his approach to both business and governance, with Stitt frequently citing his financial expertise as a qualification for managing state budgets and operations.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Stitt built a career in the mortgage industry. He founded Gateway Mortgage Group, a residential mortgage company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served as the company's chairman and chief executive officer, growing it into a significant player in the residential mortgage market. Gateway Mortgage Group operated across multiple states, originating and servicing home loans.

When Stitt launched his gubernatorial campaign in 2018, he stepped away from his day-to-day leadership role at the company. Gateway Mortgage Group subsequently hired a new CEO to lead the firm in his absence. His business background and identity as a self-described outsider to politics became defining themes of his campaign.

2018 Gubernatorial Campaign

Stitt entered the 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial race as a political newcomer with no prior experience in elected office. He ran in a crowded Republican primary field, positioning himself as a businessman who could bring private-sector efficiency to state government.

During the primary, Stitt discussed a range of policy issues, including agricultural concerns important to rural Oklahoma voters. He articulated a vision of making Oklahoma a "top ten state" in various metrics, including education, infrastructure, and economic development. He staked out positions on a variety of issues during the campaign, framing himself as a conservative outsider.

Stitt advanced to the Republican primary runoff election. He won the runoff, becoming the Republican nominee for governor. Fox News described him as a "Tulsa businessman" and "political novice" upon his primary victory. His outsider campaign was characterized by RealClearPolitics as part of a broader national trend described as the "collapse of the career politicians."

Stitt received several notable endorsements during the campaign. Former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn endorsed him during the race. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz also endorsed Stitt's candidacy. Outgoing Governor Mary Fallin endorsed Stitt as the Republican nominee. President Donald Trump also endorsed Stitt during the gubernatorial race.

In the November 2018 general election, Stitt defeated Democratic nominee Drew Edmondson, the former Oklahoma Attorney General, with approximately 54.3% of the vote.

First Term as Governor (2019–2023)

Kevin Stitt was inaugurated as the 28th Governor of Oklahoma on January 14, 2019, succeeding Mary Fallin. His lieutenant governor, Matt Pinnell, was inaugurated alongside him. Among his early appointments, Stitt selected Michael Junk, a former Tulsa deputy mayor, for a role in his administration.

Stitt's first term was marked by his continued emphasis on operating government with business principles and his "Top Ten" initiative, which set goals for Oklahoma to rank among the top ten states in various categories. His tenure included navigating the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, managing relationships with tribal nations within Oklahoma, and addressing the state's budget and education system.

2022 Reelection

Stitt sought reelection in 2022 and once again secured the Republican nomination. His general election opponent was Joy Hofmeister, who had been serving as the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction. Hofmeister, previously a Republican, switched her party affiliation to Democrat to challenge Stitt in the general election. Stitt won reelection with approximately 55.4% of the vote, slightly improving upon his 2018 margin.

Second Term as Governor (2023–present)

In his second term, Stitt has continued to pursue a conservative policy agenda for Oklahoma. As a term-limited governor who cannot seek reelection in 2026, Stitt has sought to advance several policy priorities through the state question process. In early 2026, he announced his support for a slate of "conservative state questions" that would address several issues, including proposals to limit Medicaid, address marijuana policy, and change the method of selecting the state superintendent of public instruction from an elected position to a gubernatorial appointment.

National Governors Association Chairmanship

Stitt assumed the chairmanship of the National Governors Association (NGA) on July 26, 2025, succeeding Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The role has placed Stitt at the center of interactions between the nation's governors and the federal government, particularly during the second presidential term of Donald Trump.

In February 2026, Stitt led the annual NGA winter meeting in Washington, D.C., which included events at the White House. The gathering drew national attention due to tensions between governors and the Trump administration. A breakfast meeting between governors and President Trump was described in media accounts as contentious, though Stitt characterized the meeting afterward as having "turned out well." The Associated Press reported that a White House dinner closed what it described as "a turbulent week for governors in Washington."

The Wall Street Journal published a profile of Stitt in February 2026 describing him as "the Republican Governor Getting Under Trump's Skin," highlighting moments of friction between Stitt, in his capacity as NGA chair, and the Trump White House. In a January 2026 CNN interview, Stitt stated that Trump was receiving "bad advice" regarding aspects of the administration's immigration enforcement crackdown, a notable public criticism from a Republican governor who had received Trump's endorsement in 2018.

2026 Oklahoma Wildfires Response

In February 2026, Oklahoma experienced a series of wildfires that burned more than 180,000 acres across the state. In response, Stitt signed an executive order easing regulations to assist Oklahoma ranchers and communities affected by the fires. The order was designed to expedite the delivery of wildfire aid, including provisions to speed logistical support to impacted areas. State officials subsequently held wildfire preparedness briefings as additional days of high fire risk were forecast.

Personal Life

Kevin Stitt has six children. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and built his business career in Tulsa before entering politics.

His Cherokee citizenship has been a notable aspect of his biography, making him one of the few governors in American history with membership in a federally recognized tribal nation. His relationship with the Cherokee Nation and other tribal governments within Oklahoma has been a recurring subject during his tenure as governor, particularly in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2020 decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which affirmed tribal reservation boundaries across much of eastern Oklahoma.

Recognition

Stitt's most prominent institutional recognition has been his selection as chair of the National Governors Association, a position he assumed on July 26, 2025. The NGA chairmanship is a rotating position among the nation's governors and is one of the most prominent roles available to a sitting governor in American intergovernmental relations. In this capacity, Stitt has represented the collective interests of the nation's governors in dealings with the White House and federal agencies.

During his 2018 campaign, Stitt received endorsements from a range of prominent national Republican figures, including President Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, and former Senator Tom Coburn, reflecting his standing within the Republican Party.

National media coverage of Stitt increased during his tenure as NGA chair, including a profile in The Wall Street Journal and coverage by CNN, the Associated Press, and other major outlets in early 2026 related to his interactions with the Trump administration.