Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is entering some 2024 races

WITH general elections are just a few days away and the last two years Governor Kevin Stitt term is fast approaching, the governor still needs a political victory. Big.

There is a quiet debate about his influence and influence – both in Oklahoma and beyond – and what the future holds for the governor.

These questions are difficult. And the future remains cloudy.

Stitt and his political action committee have focused this election season on removing three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices and reappointing the court before he leaves office. A Donald Trump victory could also create new opportunities in Washington for high-profile Republicans.

However, Stitt’s decision to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ candidacy for president, in addition to a series of domestic political scars, could make it difficult for him to win national office, said James Davenport, associate dean of Rose State College. The problem Stitt faces, Davenport said, is that Trump doesn’t prioritize party over personality.

“If the other candidate had been the Republican nominee for president, well, I don’t think the fact that he (Stitt) endorsed DeSantis would have hurt his chances for a position in the administration,” Davenport said. “But with Trump, Trump seems to be much more petty about these types of things.”

Stitt’s spokeswoman, Abegail Cave, did not respond to The Oklahoman’s questions about the governor’s political activities.

Stitt gets involved in politics in primaries, general elections

Using support from the right-wing Oklahoma Public Affairs Council, Stitt and his dark money political action committee 46 Action attacked Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices Yvonne Kauger, Noma Gurich and James Edmondson, calling each of them “activist liberal judges.” “

Kauger is the court’s longest-serving member, and she and Gurich are two of four women to serve on the court since its founding. Kauger, Gurich and Edmondson were appointed by Democratic governors.

Oklahoma voters are being asked whether to keep judges in place. Such votes are usually a nonpartisan issue, but votes on judicial retention became the hottest part of the November ballot in Oklahoma.

So far, 46 Action and the OCPA-led group People for Opportunity have contributed a total of almost $2 million to the fight against Kauger, Gurich and Edmondson. Two judge advocacy groups, Hands Off Our Courts and Protect Our Freedoms LLC, have contributed about $1.5 million to the campaign to support the three judges.

Stitt criticized some of the court’s most important decisions during his term, including legal disputes with the Legislature and tribal nations. Removing the three justices, all of whom were appointed by Democratic governors, would give Stitt a chance to leave a lasting mark on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and influence its rulings during his final two years in office.

Stitt takes his political role seriously

Like other governors before him, Stitt is no stranger to political campaigns, even if he’s not on the ballot.

Last winter, during the special election for Comanche County’s 32nd Senate District, Stitt endorsed and campaigned for JJ Francais, one of several candidates for the position. However, despite Stitt’s efforts, Francais was defeated by Freedom Caucus Republican Dusty Deevers, who then took the seat by defeating Democrat Larry Bush.

After the race, at a press conference in March, the governor sent a message to his opponents: I am watching and will be involved in the primary election.

“Listen, I will never shy away from limited government, smaller government, the freedoms that we believe in, free market principles, school choice and lower taxes,” Stitt said. “So absolutely, I mean, if there are candidates that I think are going to be consistent with Oklahoma’s values, and there are candidates that don’t, then I will 100 percent run in the primary, get involved, and try to let Oklahomans know what I think “

The mayor kept his word. During the June primary, Stitt took aim at several Republican lawmakers who blocked his proposals.

Sen. Greg McCortney, who would become the next Senate president pro tempore, was one of those lawmakers. McCortney has been heavily criticized for his role as House majority leader and his ties to outgoing Senate pro tempore Greg Treat.

McCortney was defeated after a campaign against him by the governor’s PAC 46 Action. Stitt also waded into the race, referring to the lawmaker as a RINO (Republican in Name Only) and telling those who would listen, “Send me someone I can work with.”

Later, during the August runoff elections, Stitt made a trip to Lincoln County to campaign for Rep. Kevin Wallace, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee. Stitt knocked on the door with Wallace, but as the final vote showed, it wasn’t enough. Wallace was defeated.

It’s still unclear how much support Stitt will receive from the Legislature to push his ideas. The leadership teams of both the House and Senate are in flux, and lawmakers may view the governor’s troubled past and lack of movement toward national office as a sign of the governor’s weakening power.

So where does the governor go from here?

On policy, Stitt scored some points with conservatives by eliminating the state portion of the grocery sales tax and passing anti-abortion legislation through the Legislature.

But he also recorded losses. Stitt has repeatedly clashed with the state’s tribal leaders and has had numerous legal battles – and defeats – in court. He has made the reduction of personal income tax one of his flagship agenda items, but so far he has not managed to finalize the transaction.

The governor’s brand has been successful in other areas. A recently released grand jury report sharply criticized the governor and his oversight of the federal governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds.

However, Davenport said Stitt could find a path to national office if he takes steps to improve his relationship with tribal leaders and clear up some of the other political issues that continue to haunt him.

“There is a lot of work to be done,” Davenport said. “Flexibility is required, but if there is a will, there is a way.”

Davenport said bringing in those who oppose him is a solid way to unite a candidate’s political party. “A good example of this is (Ronald) Reagan. He appointed (George HW) Bush. He appointed Jim Baker. “Barack Obama nominated Hillary Clinton as secretary of state,” he said. “These types of meetings can really unite the party and get everyone on the same page.”

The national position would depend on Trump’s election. Where could Stitt go if Democratic nominee Kamala Harris takes the presidency? Like other possibilities, that path is difficult to predict, Davenport said.

“It’s really hard for people from Oklahoma to run a really competitive presidential campaign,” Davenport said. “To do that, you have to have a really strong network and some advantages, but I don’t know if Stitt has what it takes to do that.”

Davenport said that with no open U.S. Senate seat, there aren’t many clear options for Stitt at this time.

“Of course, there are ways to do it,” he said. “But politically, nothing is certain. Everything is up in the air at the moment.”