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Enid News & Eagle
Sharp contrasts define gubernatorial frontrunners
By Paul Monies
Oklahoma Watch
A deep-pocketed political new-
comer and Republican business-
man from Tulsa will face a longtime
Democratic Party stalwart and for-
mer attorney general in November’s
gubernatorial election.
Kevin Stitt beat former Oklahoma
City Mayor Mick Cornett in Tuesday’s
Republican primary runoff, taking
54.5 percent of the vote. He will
face Democrat Drew Edmondson and
Libertarian Chris Powell, who beat
Rex Lawhorn in that party’s runoff.
The Stitt-Edmondson race will be
a study in contrasts, with Stitt posi-
tioning himself as a Donald Trump-
like outsider — with none of the
president’s baggage — bringing busi-
ness acumen to the governor’s man-
sion and state government. But Stitt
will need allies in the Legislature
and capable appointees to major state
agencies to help him deliver on his
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promise to make Oklahoma
a “top 10 state.”
“Oklahoma’s turnaround
— it starts right here, right
now,” Stitt said at his victory
party in Jenks. “Oklahomans
have spoken, and we
want change. This victo-
ry isn’t about Republicans
and Democrats or rural versus
urban. Tonight’s victory is about
Oklahomans ending politics as usual
and the status quo that has left our
state in last place. My passion
and my vision has always
been to bring Oklahoma into
a top 10 state.”
Stitt will be able to draw
on his own personal wealth
— he’s loaned his campaign
$3.2 million and raised anoth-
er $3.1 million so far — and
a Republican-leaning electorate that
gave Trump 65 percent of the vote in
the 2016 election.
“He’s not afraid of spending his
own money in this endeavor,” said
James Davenport, a professor of polit-
ical science at Rose State College.
“But he is a very quick study. He
listens to people and takes what he’s
doing seriously.”
Edmondson, meanwhile, can
hammer on Stitt’s lack of experience
to appeal to voters who have endured
budget turmoil and agency cuts under
Republican rule at the State Capitol.
See GUBERNATORIAL CONTRASTS, Page A3
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GUBERNATORIAL CONTRASTS
Continued from Page A1
He also can sell himself as a counter-
weight to some of the partisan extrem-
ism in the Legislature.
Edmondson said Oklahomans on
the campaign trail have told him they
want better schools, access to hospi-
tals and services for veterans. He said
they want leadership at the Capitol
and are tired of political slogans and
mudslinging.
“We can’t afford four more years
of the same flawed policies and mis-
guided schemes that have pulled us to
the bottom in so many important areas
like education, health care and mental
health,” Edmondson said in a state-
ment Tuesday night as he congratulat-
ed Stitt for winning the GOP runoff.
Stitt faced questions about his
business record in the GOP primary
and runoff, with opponents saying
his Gateway Mortgage Group had
questionable lending practices in the
years leading up to the financial crisis
a decade ago.
“It would not be surprising to see
Edmondson or some outside groups
spending money to hammer on the
g g y y
issue that the business where well-organized Education could be and not having the school
record isn’t as great as it Democrat Kendra Horn another flashpoint. One of system in a stable way hurts
sounds,” Davenport said. faces Republican incum- the few ways Stitt differed small towns. I think a lot
It didn’t take long for bent Steve Russell. Stitt with Cornett in the runoff of moderate Republicans
the Democratic Governors appears likely to win his was over the need for a realized this was going on
Association to pull out a home base in the Tulsa area, $430 million tax increase and that’s why there’s been
hammer. The associa- which has been more reli- in the spring, in part to pay so many more Republicans
tion released a statement ably Republican in recent for higher teacher salaries. running for office.”
Tuesday evening tying Stitt elections. Stitt said he wouldn’t have Stitt, in his victo-
to outgoing Gov. Mary Drew Edmondson Rural voters favored signed the bill if he had Kevin Stitt ry speech, said he will be
Fallin and calling Stitt “little Stitt in the GOP runoff, but been governor because focused on the future.
more than a corrupt businessman who Edmondson’s history on the ballot it didn’t include education reforms. “Isn’t that what we’re here for?
preyed on innocent people as CEO at and family name will be a comfort to Edmondson, meanwhile, marched To give our children and grandchil-
one of the ‘shadiest’ mortgage compa- many longtime rural Democrats, said next to teachers as they staged a nine- dren a brighter future where they can
nies in country.” Keith Gaddie, a political science pro- day walkout at the Capitol in April. accomplish everything they want to
Still, the electorate is in an unset- fessor at the University of Oklahoma. John Wood, a political science pro- in our state,” Stitt said. “As your next
tled mood. Republican voters have Edmondson is a former Muskogee fessor at the University of Central governor, my promise to you is that
rebelled against many incumbents in County district attorney. Oklahoma, said the teacher walkout I’m always going to be focused on
this election cycle, with a dozen law- “Stitt doesn’t poll as well against was less partisan than it appeared at strengthening all Oklahoma families
makers losing in either the primary or Edmondson, but in many ways, he’s the time. for the next generation, and not the
the runoff. a much more dangerous candidate,” “The reality is it was actually a next election.”
Rural voters in the eastern part Gaddie said. “He is from banking and moderate Republican thing,” Wood
of the state could be the swing con- business. He’s not a politician. But he said. “Moderate Republicans were
Oklahoma Watch is nonprofit, nonpartisan
stituency in the gubernatorial race. does present well and is a very quick saying, ‘Look, we like education, and
Edmondson will be hoping for an study. He’s a Norman kid who lives it’s important.’ In our state, a lot of our media organization that produces in-depth and
energized group of Democrats in the in Tulsa and he’s going to start with teachers or educators are Republicans. investigative content on a range of public-policy
Oklahoma City area, and particular- a strong foundation in the country This whole idea of consolidation and issues facing the state. For more Oklahoma
ly in the 5th Congressional District, already.” the whole idea of not paying teachers Watch content, go to www.oklahomawatch.org.
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