Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt emphasized the importance of state authority over elections during remarks made as he prepared to transfer leadership of the National Governors Association to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Stitt stated that elections should remain under state control rather than being federalized, while acknowledging the need to ensure voting integrity and citizenship verification.
Stitt pointed to Oklahoma’s election procedures as an example of effective state-level management, noting that the state requires notarized absentee ballots and has established deadlines for vote counting. He expressed concern about discrepancies in vote-counting timelines in certain swing states and counties, suggesting that state governors rather than federal authorities should address such issues. Stitt argued that the current system with 50 different states managing their own elections represents the appropriate constitutional framework.
The governor addressed his earlier confrontation with President Donald Trump, when he pushed back against the president’s attempt to exclude two Democratic governors from a White House meeting in February. Stitt explained that he intervened to ensure the National Governors Association meeting included all governors, and noted that Trump subsequently allowed all governors to attend the business meeting, though some were excluded from a separate dinner. Stitt characterized the incident as resulting from incomplete information provided to the president and described their current relationship as functional.
Stitt attributed rising political polarization partly to what he characterized as an oversized federal government pursuing uniform national policies. He advocated for greater acceptance of policy differences among states, arguing that the nation’s founders designed the system to accommodate regional variation. Stitt also expressed hope for a renewed Republican focus on fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets, citing the 1994 Contract with America as a model. He stated that he plans to complete his gubernatorial term and return to the private sector rather than pursue higher office.
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