Kevin Stitt, Joy Hofmeister to face off in Oklahoma governor's race come November

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will face state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister in the general election for governor after both candidates skated to easy victories Tuesday.

With 69% of the vote, Stitt defeated three Republican opponents in the GOP primary, easily clearing his first hurdle to another four years in the governor's office.

Hofmeister's victory over former state Sen. Connie Johnson marks the state superintendent's first electoral win as a Democrat. Previously a lifelong Republican, Hofmeister switched parties in October to challenge Stitt as a Democrat.

When she switched parties, Hofmeister came out swinging against Stitt by accusing the governor of "hijacking" the Republican Party. Hofmeister clinched just over 60% of Democratic primary votes cast Tuesday.

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Just before a crowd of supporters at Stitt's watch party erupted into chants of "four more years," the governor urged Oklahomans to vote for Republicans in November.

"People all over the country right now, they're waking up and they're seeing and noticing the differences between a red state and a blue state," Stitt said. (There's) never been bigger differences.

"Friends, let's keep Oklahoma red."

In the primary, Stitt defeated Tulsa Republican Mark Sherwood, Department of Veterans Affairs Director Joel Kintsel and Moira McCabe.

In their respective victory speeches, Stitt and Hofmeister briefly criticized each other, although the governor did not name his opponent.

In his remarks, Stitt said special interest groups that have spent millions of dollars on attack ads against him are "bankrolling" Hofmeister in the general election.

"We all know I have upset powerful special interest groups because I will never back down," Stitt said. "They have a blank checkbook, and they are hiding it in dark money groups that have spent unprecedented amounts of money against me."

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Stitt and Hofmeister consistently raised more campaign cash than their primary challengers in the lead up to the election.

The governor raised more than $5 million ahead of the primary. Hofmeister raised more than $1.1 million.

In her victory speech, Hofmeister vowed to work her heart out and "fight like hell" for Oklahoma.

She also was critical of Stitt's leadership.

"Governor Stitt said he would run this state like a business," Hofmeister said. "By his own standards, the business of Oklahoma is failing. Oklahoma is a state where our kids deserve better, our families deserve more and our businesses should able to thrive."

The Democratic Governors Association also took a shot at Stitt's administration while the Republican Governors Association called Hofmeister a political opportunist for switching parties.

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In the lead up to the primary elections, Stitt and Hofmeister largely ignored their primary opponents while they set their sights on November.

This time four years ago, Stitt was still a relatively obscure political newcomer that landed in the GOP gubernatorial runoff by touting his business acumen and outsider perspective. This time around, Stitt easily avoided a runoff primary.

Former GOP state Sen. Ervin Yen, now a registered independent, will be on the ballot for governor in November. An anesthesiologist, Yen has criticized Stitt's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libertarian Natalie Bruno will also be on the general election ballot.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to face Democrat Joy Hofmeister in November