Democrat Joy Hofmeister switched parties and needs others to do the same

Next week’s gubernatorial race could come down to Oklahomans like Brea Mulholland, a lifelong Republican from El Reno who voted for Gov. Kevin Stitt four years ago.

But this year she plans on voting for Democrat Joy Hofmeister.

“I’ve actually been a Republican my entire life and this year has been very pivotal and earth-shattering for me,” said Mulholland, who attended a Hofmeister campaign event on Tuesday.

Stitt’s approval of some of the strictest abortion bans in the nation has Mulholland supporting Hofmeister, who describes herself as personally against abortion but feels it should be a protected right.

In a state where Republican voters outnumber Democrats by a nearly 2 to 1 margin, winning a statewide race requires support from Republican voters.

More:How dyslexia, car rides with dad, and a mugshot shaped Joy Hofmeister

High Democratic turnout in the state’s two largest urban centers will be critical for Hofmeister but it likely won’t be enough.

She needs a sizable number of Oklahomans to do what she did last year — switch parties.

“There are so many Republicans that we talk to who are ready for change and believe I represent their values more than the governor,” Hofmeister told The Oklahoman.

The overturn of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court this year has been a motivating issue for Democrats nationwide but even some Republicans feel abortion restrictions have gone too far, including in Oklahoma where there is no exception for rape or incest.

Less than one-third of Oklahoma voters want a ban on all abortions, according to a poll from Amber Integrated, an Oklahoma City-based firm.

Hofmeister has tried to paint Stitt as an extremist on numerous issues, including abortion, school choice and the teaching of race and gender in the classroom.

But rather than embrace her new party's progressive platform, she has largely spoken about the need to find the middle ground.

“We need more people coming to the middle," Hofmeister said.

In the waning days of the campaign, Hofmeister took her message to several Republican strongholds, including El Reno, Weatherford and Altus.

Onboard her campaign charter bus, which has “JOY” in big red letters on each side, Hofmeister said she believes enough voters are tired of party extremism that they have been attracted to her campaign, regardless of their party affiliation.

“Governor Stitt has shown no mercy in his efforts to get headlines in a way that really impacts lives,” Hofmeister said.

More:Gov. Kevin Stitt isn't here to make friends, but he's asking for your vote

Mulholland, who has a 3-year-old daughter, says the governor’s rhetoric over abortion has troubled her.

She is especially worried that doctors will be unwilling to consider an abortion procedure to save the life of a mother because they think they could be prosecuted.

“This has been a very alarming year realizing that my life doesn't matter to a lot of people,” Mulholland said.

Flipping Republicans to her side has been a major theme of Hofmeister’s campaign. Many of her commercials include "lifelong Republicans" announcing their support of Hofmeister.

Imagine This Oklahoma, a pro-Hofmeister super PAC, recently aired a commercial that featured former Oklahoma Congressman J.C. Watts endorsing the Democratic candidate.

“I was a Republican then and I’m a Republican now and, friends, I am voting for Joy Hofmeister,” Watts said in the ad.

Stitt’s side has responded by challenging Hofmeister’s moderate claims.

“If you think Joe Biden's policies are bad, extreme liberal Joy Hofmeister will only make them worse,” said one commercial paid for by the Republican Governor’s Association's PAC.

More:Five key policy differences between Hofmeister and Stitt in Oklahoma governor's election

If a majority of voters view Hofmeister as an "extreme liberal," her ability to win will be challenging in a state that has been one of the most conservative in the nation for decades.

Former President Donald Trump won the state in 2020 by a 33-point margin and Republicans have won the last three gubernatorial races, even as Democratic candidates also tried to present themselves as moderates.

Recent polls haven't shown any definitive projections ahead of the Nov. 8 election, as one poll had Hofmeister tied with Stitt, while another had Stitt leading by nine points.

But Angela Nichols, a registered independent from Oklahoma City, believes Hofmeister has a chance to appeal to enough Republican voters to win.

"Improving schools and women's choice, those are two big issues for me that she supports," said Nichols, who is a mother of two. "I think she is the right (Democratic) candidate to convince some of those on-the-fence voters."

Oklahoma state government reporting is supported in part by a grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation. The Oklahoman retains editorial control. To support work like this, consider purchasing a digital subscription to the Oklahoman today.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Hofmeister is targeting Republican moderates in her race for governor