Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is running in a number of races in 2024

With the general elections in just a few days and the last two years of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s term is fast approaching, the governor still needs a political victory. A big one.

Questions about his impact and influence — both inside and outside Oklahoma — and what the future holds for the governor are quietly being discussed.

Those 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 reforming the court before he leaves office. A Donald Trump victory could also create new opportunities in Washington, D.C., for high-profile Republicans.

But Stitt’s decision to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ bid for president, on top of a collection of political scars at home, it could be difficult for him to win a national post, said Rose State College Associate Dean James Davenport. The problem Stitt faces, Davenport said, is that Trump is not someone who embraces party over personality.

“If it was any other candidate who was the Republican nominee for president, I don’t think the fact that he (Stitt) endorsed DeSantis would diminish his prospects for a position in government,” Davenport said. “But with Trump, Trump seems to be much more petty about things like that.”

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

Stitt embraces his politics in the primaries, general elections

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

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

Oklahoma voters are being asked if they want to keep the judges. Such votes are normally nonpartisan affairs, but judicial retention votes have become the most popular part of Oklahoma’s November ballot.

So far, 46 Action and the OCPA-led group People for Opportunity have together pumped nearly $2 million into the effort to defeat Kauger, Gurich and Edmondson. Two groups supporting the judges, Hands Off Our Courts and Protect Our Freedoms LLC, have invested about $1.5 million in the campaign to support the three judges.

Stitt has criticized some of the court’s most high-profile decisions during his tenure, including in legal battles with the Legislature and with tribal nations. Eliminating three justices, all appointed by Democratic governors, would give Stitt a chance to leave a lasting impression on the Oklahoma Supreme Court and influence its decisions during his final two years in office.

Stitt takes his political role seriously

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

Last winter, during a special election for Senate District 32 in Comanche County, Stitt endorsed and campaigned for JJ Francais, one of several candidates for the seat. But despite Stitt’s efforts, Francais was defeated by Republican Dusty Deevers of the Freedom Caucus, who went on to win the seat, overpowering Democrat Larry Bush.

After the race, the governor sent a message to his opponents during a press conference in March: I am watching and involved in the primaries.

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

The governor was true to his word. During the June primaries, Stitt took aim at some Republican lawmakers who had blocked his proposals.

Senator Greg McCortney, who would become the next Senate president pro tempore, was one of those lawmakers. McCortney was hammered for his role as majority leader and his ties to outgoing Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat.

McCortney was defeated after the governor’s PAC, 46 Action, campaigned against him. Stitt also injected himself into the race, labeling the lawmaker a RINO (Republican in name only) and telling those who would listen, “Send me someone I can work with.”

Later, during the August primary, Stitt took a road trip to Lincoln County to campaign for Rep. Kevin Wallace, the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget committee. Stitt knocked on Wallace’s door, but as the final vote showed, that was not enough. Wallace was defeated.

Still, it’s unclear how much support Stitt will get from the Legislature to push his ideas. The leadership teams of both the House of Representatives and the Senate are changing, and lawmakers could view the governor’s troubled past and lack of movement toward a national post as a sign that the governor’s power has waned.

So where does the governor go from here?

When it comes to policy, Stitt has scored some points among conservatives by eliminating the state’s share of the sales tax for grocery stores and pushing anti-abortion legislation through the Legislature.

But he has also suffered losses. Stitt has clashed repeatedly with the state’s tribal leaders and has had numerous legal battles (and defeats) in court. He has made cutting personal taxes one of his top agenda items, but has so far failed to get the deal done.

The governor’s brand has taken hits in other areas. A recently released grand jury report was sharp in its criticism of the governor and his oversight of the federal Governor’s Emergency Education Assistance (GEER) funds.

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

“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Davenport said. “And it requires flexibility, but where there is a will, there is a way.”

Bringing in those who oppose you is a solid way to unite the candidate’s political party, according to Davenport. “A good example of this is (Ronald) Reagan. He appointed (George HW) Bush. He appointed Jim Baker. Barack Obama appointed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State,” he said. “These types of agreements can really help bring the party back together and get everyone on the same page.”

A national post would depend on Trump’s election. Where could Stitt go if Democratic candidate Kamala Harris takes over the presidency? Just like other options, that path is difficult to predict, Davenport said.

“It’s very difficult for someone from Oklahoma to mount a truly competitive presidential campaign,” Davenport said. “You have to have a very strong network and some advantages for that, and I don’t know if Stitt has what it takes to do that.”

Lacking an open seat in the U.S. Senate, Davenport said, there aren’t that many clear options for Stitt at this point.

“Of course, there are ways to achieve that,” he said. “But politically nothing is certain. Right now it’s all up in the air.”