2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election
The 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2022, to elect the Governor of Oklahoma.[1] The primary elections for the Republican. Democratic, and Libertarian parties' nominations will take place on June 28, 2022.[1] All candidates must file between the days of April 13–15, 2022.[1]
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| Elections in Oklahoma |
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 Government |
Incumbent Republican governor Kevin Stitt has announced his intention to run for re-election to a second term.
Republican primary
Candidates
Ervin Yen, former State Senator for the 40th district, was the first to declare their campaign for the Republican Party of Oklahoma's nomination on November 8, 2020.[2] Yen later publicly announced on October 19, 2021, that he was leaving the Republican Party of Oklahoma. He criticized the party's opposition to mask and vaccine mandates for COVID-19, saying "The Oklahoma GOP has left me."[3]
Incumbent Kevin Stitt was reported as joining the race in January 2021 after officially filing for re-election.[4]
Mark Sherwood, a naturopathic doctor, was reported as joining the race in September 2021. His platform has included anti-masking advocacy, vaccine hesitancy, and promoting the Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election.[5]
Declared
- Mark Sherwood, naturopathic doctor[5]
- Kevin Stitt, incumbent Governor (2019–present)[4]
Potential
- Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby[8]
- Shelli Landon, singer and candidate for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district in 2020[8]
- T. W. Shannon, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (2013–2014), former state representative (2007–2015), and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014[8]
- Tess Teague, former state representative (2016–2018)[8]
Endorsements
- State Senators
- Warren Hamilton, State Senator for the 7th district (2021-Present)[9]
- Jake A. Merrick, State Senator for the 22nd district (2021-Present)[9]
- State Representatives
- John R. Bennett, Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party (2021-Present) and former State Representative for the 2nd district (2011-2019)[9]
- Individuals
- Jackson Lahmeyer, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[5]
Democratic primary
Former state senator Connie Johnson was the first Democrat to enter the race, officially declaring her candidacy on July 6, 2021. Her platform includes expanding access to healthcare, revitalizing Oklahoma's infrastructure, and legalizing marijuana (marijuana is currently legal in Oklahoma for medicinal purposes, but is illegal for recreational use). A political progressive, Johnson was the only Oklahoma superdelegate who supported Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary.[10]
On October 7, 2021, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister announced her plans to switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party and run for governor. Hofmeister had first been elected as a Republican in 2014 and 2018. This marked the first time that a Democrat held a statewide elected position in Oklahoma since Republicans swept every statewide office in 2010. Hofmeister had frequently clashed with Republican governor Kevin Stitt during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, she opposed the decision by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, whose members were appointed by Stitt, to forego imposing a mask mandate on schools.[11]
Declared
- Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2015–present)[12][11]
- Connie Johnson, former state senator (2006–2014), former vice chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party (2015–2016), nominee for U.S. Senate in 2014, and candidate for governor in 2018[13][10]
Former State Senator and Former Vice Chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
Connie Johnson
from
Holdenville
Declined
- Breea Clark, mayor of Norman[15]
- Monroe Nichols, state representative (2016–present)[16]
- Anastasia Pittman, former state representative (2007–2013), former state senator (2014–2018), and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 2018 (Running for Oklahoma County Commissioner)[17][18]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Joy Hofmeister | Connie Johnson | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Integrated | Oct. 12–14, 2021 | 243 (RV) | - | 33% | 13% | 55% |
Libertarian primary
Declared
- Natalie Bruno, marketing executive[19]
Independents
Candidates
Ervin Yen switched from the Republican Party to being an Independent in October 2021, citing Stitt's administration and statements from the Oklahoma Republican Party leadership criticizing COVID-19 precautions.[7]
Declared
- Paul Tay, perennial candidate[19][Note 1]
- Ervin Yen, physician and former state senator (2014–2018)[2][7]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[22] | Solid R | October 5, 2021 |
| Inside Elections[23] | Solid R | September 29, 2021 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[24] | Safe R | September 15, 2021 |
Polling
- Kevin Stitt vs. Joy Hofmeister
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Kevin Stitt (R) | Joy Hofmeister (D) | Refused/Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Integrated | October 12–14, 2021 | 500 (RV) | 4.4% | 49% | 33% | 18% |
Notes
- Paul Tay was arrested on August 23, 2021 and charged with kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and rape.[20]
- The images in this gallery are in the public domain or are otherwise free to use. This gallery should not be construed as a list of major or noteworthy candidates. If a candidate is not included in this gallery, it is only because there are no high-quality, copyright-free photographs of them available on the Internet.
References
- "2022 Statutory Election Dates and Deadlines" (PDF). oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- "Former state Sen. Ervin Yen officially announces campaign for Oklahoma governor". KOCO. November 8, 2020.
- Forman, Carmen (October 19, 2021). "Second Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate changes political affiliation, abandons GOP". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- "Gov. Kevin Stitt Files Paperwork To Run For Re-Election in 2022". News 9. January 15, 2021.
- Forman, Carmen (September 9, 2021). "Broken Arrow Republican to jump into governor's race, challenge Stitt from the right". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- https://www.news9.com/story/600235973972130be65f3fd4/gov-kevin-stitt-files-paperwork-to-run-for-reelection-in-2022
- Krehbiel, Randy (October 17, 2021). "Political notebook: Polling indicates Oklahomans more concerned about COVID and less happy with elected leaders". Tulsa World. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- "5 Republicans Who Could Challenge Stitt in 2022". The Lost Ogle. November 11, 2020.
- Krehbiel, Randy (October 24, 2021). "Political notebook: Tulsa lawmaker to seek limited rule-making authority for county governments". Tulsa World. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- Osborne, Deon (July 6, 2021). ""Health care is a human right": Connie Johnson running for Oklahoma Governor". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- McDonnell, Augusta (October 6, 2021). "Sources: State Superintendent Hofmeister To Announce Gubernatorial Run". KWTV-DT. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Eger, Andrea. "Joy Hofmeister to flip parties, challenge Kevin Stitt for governor in 2022". Tulsa World. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Patterson, Matt (May 20, 2021). "Former Sen. Connie Johnson files to run for governor". NonDoc. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2021/07/06/health-care-is-a-human-right-connie-johnson-running-for-oklahoma-governor/
- Clark, Breea. "Campaign Announcement". twitter.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- Krehbiel, Randy (October 6, 2021). "Brad Henry, Oklahoma's last Democratic governor, feels a kinship with Hofmeister". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- "Oklahoma". Politics1. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- Patterson, Matt; Savage, Tres; Browne, Archiebald (November 8, 2021). "As local elections take shape, Kevin Calvey joins OK County DA race". NonDoc. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
- "Field Seeking to run for Oklahoma governor grows to 5". AP News. June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- "Paul Tay charged with rape, kidnapping, assault". Tulsa World. August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/political-notebook-polling-indicates-oklahomans-more-concerned-about-covid-and-less-happy-with-elected-leaders/article_7441d102-2d01-11ec-b42b-67a04418684a.html/
- "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
- "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- "2022 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
External links
- Official campaign websites