2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election explained

The 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Oklahoma. Incumbent Republican governor Kevin Stitt was re-elected to a second term, with 55.5% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Joy Hofmeister.^[1]

Although Stitt won by a comfortable margin, and even expanded his margin from 2018, his performance was the worst of any 2022 Republican candidate for statewide office in Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Hofmeister's performance was the second best of any 2022 Democratic statewide candidate in Oklahoma, only behind State Superintendent of Public Instruction nominee Jena Nelson.

The primary elections for the Republican and Democratic parties' nominations took place on June 28, 2022.^[2] The deadline for candidates to file was April 15, 2022.^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Ervin Yen, former state senator from the 40th District, was the first to declare their campaign for the Republican Party of Oklahoma's nomination on November 8, 2020. 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.

Mark Sherwood, a naturopath, was reported as joining the race in September 2021. His platform included a "zero tolerance policy" for vaccine and mask mandates. He stated, "I believe the concept of vaccine and mask mandates needs to end."

Joel Kintsel announced his candidacy on April 7. Moira McCabe was reported to have launched their campaign around the same time.

In early June, Stitt's campaign pulled one of its commercials after Oklahoma County District Attorney, David Prater announced an investigation into whether it violated state law for featuring Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor. While pulling the ad, the campaign maintained they were "confident that it is an acceptable campaign ad focused on the Governor's accomplishments and fulfilled campaign promises."^[4]

Incumbent Kevin Stitt won the June 28 Republican primary.

Nominee

• Kevin Stitt, incumbent governor (2019–present)^{[5] [6]}

Eliminated in primary

• Joel Kintsel, director of the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs and former Oklahoma House of Representatives’ parliamentarian^{[7] [8]}
• Moira McCabe, stay-at-home mom
• Mark Sherwood, naturopath and former Tulsa Police Department officer^{[9] [10]}

Withdrew before filing

• Ervin Yen (switched to Independent)

Declined

• T. W. Shannon, former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (2013–2014) and former state representative (2007–2015)^[11] (running for the Class 2 U.S. Senate seat)

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Joel Kintsel	Moira McCabe	Mark Sherwood	Kevin Stitt	Undecided
Amber Integrated (R)	June 6–9, 2022	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	4%	3%	8%		61%	23%
SoonerPoll	April 25 – May 11, 2022	306 (LV)	± 5.6%	4%	1%	5%		67%	24%
Amber Integrated (R)	March 24–27, 2022	455 (LV)	± 4.6%	–	–	15%		59%	26%

Results

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 included expanding access to healthcare, revitalizing Oklahoma's infrastructure, pursuing criminal justice reforms like banning the death penalty, support for reproductive rights, 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.^[12]

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. Her platform included increasing education funding, investing in infrastructure, expanding mental health services, sentencing reform, and support for abortion rights.^[13]

Johnson was openly skeptical of Hofmeister's decision to change parties, calling it a "big hoax." She pointed out that Hofmeister could still switch back to the Republican Party after being elected.^[13] However, other Democrats in the state were more receptive, with the Oklahoma Democratic Party issuing a statement welcoming Hofmeister to the party.^[14] Oklahoma Democratic Party chair Alicia Andrews admitted she was suspicious at first, but after talking with Hofmeister she became convinced that Hofmeister's intentions were good. Hofmeister emphasized that she was not changing her political beliefs, just her party, and is considerably more moderate in comparison to Johnson.^[15] Andrews commented that they were "two very different candidates," and they gave Democratic voters "a real choice. If you don’t have a super progressive bent and maybe Connie scares you because she is so progressive, you have Joy. If Joy is too moderate, you have Connie."^[12]

Candidates

Nominee

• Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2015–2023)^{[16] [17]}

Eliminated in primary

• Connie Johnson, former state senator (2006–2014), former vice chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party (2015–2016), nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and candidate for governor in 2018^{[18] [19]}

Declined

• Monroe Nichols, state representative (2016–present)^[20]
• Anastasia Pittman, former state senator (2014–2018) and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma in 2018 (running for Oklahoma County Commission)^{[21] [22]}

Results

General election

Candidates

• Natalie Bruno, digital marketing strategy executive (Libertarian)
• Joy Hofmeister (Democratic)
• Kevin Stitt (Republican)
• Ervin Yen, physician and former Republican state senator (2014–2018) (independent)^{[23] [24]}

Declared but failed to file

• Paul Tay, perennial candidate (independent)^[25]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report[26]		September 29, 2022
align=left	Inside Elections[27]		October 7, 2022
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball[28]		October 12, 2022
Politico[29]		October 3, 2022
align=left	RCP[30]		October 17, 2022
align=left	Fox News[31]		November 1, 2022
538[32]		October 17, 2022
Elections Daily[33]		November 7, 2022

Polling

Aggregate polls

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Kevin Stitt (R)	Joy Hofmeister (D)	Natalie Bruno (L)	Ervin Yen (I)	Undecided
Ascend Action (R)	November 5–6, 2022	682 (LV)	± 3.8%		49%	46%	1%	1%	4%
Tomahawk Strategies (R)	November 1–3, 2022	729 (LV)	± 4.0%	42%		45%	–	–	–
Blueprint Polling	October 26 – November 1, 2022	557 (LV)	± 4.2%		48%	40%	2%	4%	6%
WPA Intelligence (R)	October 28–31, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%		52%	39%	–	–	4%
Amber Integrated (R)	October 26–28, 2022	501 (LV)	± 4.4%		45%	44%	2%	4%	4%
Emerson College	October 25–28, 2022	1,000 (LV)	± 3.0%		49%	40%	1%	2%	8%
					52%	43%	2%	4%	–
Ascend Action (R)	October 24–28, 2022	749 (LV)	± 3.6%	45%		48%	1%	1%	6%
SoonerPoll	October 24–28, 2022	324 (LV)	± 5.0%	45%		48%	2%	3%	2%
Amber Integrated (R)	October 13–15, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	45%		46%	1%	3%	5%
Ascend Action (R)	October 10–12, 2022	638 (LV)	± 3.9%	42%		49%	0%	0%	8%
SoonerPoll	October 3–6, 2022	301 (LV)	± 5.7%	43%		47%	2%	1%	7%
American Viewpoint (R)	September 26–28, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%		48%	33%	9%		8%
Amber Integrated (R)	September 19–21, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%		47%	44%	2%	1%	6%
–(L)	September 15–18, 2022	2,989 (LV)	± 3.2%	39%		40%	9%	5%	7%
SoonerPoll	September 2–7, 2022	402 (LV)	± 4.9%		44%	43%	3%	4%	7%
Echelon Insights	August 31 – September 7, 2022	522 (RV)	± 6.3%		55%	36%	–	–	10%
Change Research (D)	July 22–26, 2022	2,079 (LV)	± 3.1%		42%	34%	6%	4%	14%
Amber Integrated (R)	June 6–9, 2022	795 (LV)	± 3.5%		47%	29%	2%	5%	18%
Amber Integrated (R)	March 24–27, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%		44%	30%	3%	4%	18%
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R)	January 10–21, 2022	500 (RV)	± 4.3%		49%	27%	3%	5%	15%
Change Research (D)	January 6–10, 2022	881 (LV)	± 4.8%		58%	32%	–	–	10%
Amber Integrated (R)	December 15–19, 2021	500 (RV)	± 4.4%		47%	32%	–	–	21%
Amber Integrated (R)	October 12–14, 2021	500 (RV)	± 4.4%		49%	33%	–	–	18%
Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates (R)	October 2021	500 (RV)	± 4.3%		46%	31%	6%		17%

Results

By county

County	Kevin Stitt Republican		Joy Hofmeister Democratic		Natalie Bruno Libertarian		Ervin Yen Independent		Margin		Total votes
	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"			data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%
	Adair		3,135		60.03		1,896		36.31		80		1.53		111		2.13		1,239		23.72		5,222
	Alfalfa		1,287		74.18		385		22.19		33		1.90		30		1.73		902		51.99		1,735
	Atoka		2,790		71.16		1,011		25.78		57		1.45		63		1.61		1,779		45.38		3,921
	Beaver		1,382		81.39		249		14.66		29		1.71		38		2.24		1,133		66.73		1,698
	Beckham		4,115		75.09		1,240		22.63		60		1.09		65		1.19		2,875		52.46		5,480
	Blaine		1,985		66.61		886		29.73		48		1.61		61		2.05		1,099		36.88		2,980
	Bryan		7,144		62.30		3,941		34.37		193		1.68		189		1.65		3,203		27.93		11,467
	Caddo		4,166		58.99		2,668		37.78		113		1.60		115		1.63		1,498		21.21		7,062
	Canadian		29,474		58.70		19,306		38.45		757		1.51		677		1.35		10,168		20.25		50,214
	Carter		8,621		64.30		4,332		32.31		229		1.71		226		1.69		4,289		31.99		13,408
	Cherokee		6,660		49.17		6,481		47.85		197		1.45		207		1.53		179		1.32		13,545
	Choctaw		2,798		69.09		1,084		26.77		81		2.00		87		2.15		1,714		42.32		4,050
	Cimarron		640		87.31		62		8.46		12		1.64		19		2.59		578		78.85		733
	Cleveland		41,379		45.33		47,356		51.88		1,335		1.46		1,209		1.32		-5,977		-6.55		91,279
	Coal		1,288		67.51		549		28.77		30		1.57		41		2.15		739		38.74		1,908
	Comanche		12,219		51.82		10,293		43.65		537		2.28		531		2.25		1,926		8.17		23,580
	Cotton		1,187		64.61		545		29.57		60		3.26		51		2.77		642		34.84		1,843
	Craig		2,880		64.21		1,492		33.27		57		1.27		56		1.25		1,388		30.94		4,485
	Creek		15,015		67.18		6,816		30.50		268		1.20		251		1.12		8,199		36.68		22,350
	Custer		4,853		64.78		2,461		32.85		99		1.32		79		1.05		2,392		31.93		7,492
	Delaware		8,858		67.01		3,497		29.86		178		1.35		235		1.78		4,911		37.15		13,218
	Dewey		1,400		79.23		321		18.17		19		1.08		27		1.53		1,079		61.06		1,767
	Ellis		1,167		78.53		281		18.91		25		1.68		13		0.87		886		59.62		1,486
	Garfield		10,800		66.61		4,960		30.59		222		1.37		232		1.43		5,840		36.02		16,214
	Garvin		5,589		68.81		2,296		28.27		132		1.63		105		1.29		3,293		40.54		8,122
	Grady		12,165		68.25		5,163		28.96		247		1.39		250		1.40		7,002		39.29		17,825
	Grant		1,181		73.86		375		23.45		24		1.50		19		1.19		806		50.41		1,599
	Greer		902		67.21		394		29.36		23		1.71		23		1.71		508		37.85		1,342
	Harmon		458		70.46		179		27.54		9		1.38		4		0.62		279		42.92		650
	Harper		809		69.26		317		27.14		25		2.14		17		1.46		492		42.12		1,168
	Haskell		2,337		68.90		985		29.04		32		0.94		38		1.12		1,352		39.86		3,392
	Hughes		2,352		66.35		1,093		30.83		48		1.35		52		1.47		1,259		35.52		3,545
	Jackson		3,857		70.10		1.450		26.35		105		1.91		90		1.64		2,407		43.75		5,502
	Jefferson		1,098		68.07		444		27.53		40		2.48		31		1.92		654		40.54		1,613
	Johnston		1,986		67.03		867		29.26		55		1.86		55		1.86		1,119		37.77		2,963
	Kay		7,927		63.25		4,204		33.55		191		1.52		210		1.68		3,723		29.70		12,532
	Kingfisher		3.647		74.69		1,121		22.96		55		1.13		60		1.23		2,526		51.73		4,883
	Kiowa		1,648		66.96		764		31.04		28		1.14		21		0.85		884		35.92		2,461
	Latimer		1,985		64.78		960		31.33		42		1.37		77		2.51		1,025		33.45		3,064
	Le Flore		8,266		68.08		3,377		27.81		263		2.17		235		1.94		4,889		40.27		12,141
	Lincoln		7,587		68.36		3,131		28.21		172		1.55		208		1.87		4,456		40.15		11,098
	Logan		11,086		65.14		5,517		32.42		222		1.30		194		1.14		5,569		32.72		17,019
	Love		1.951		71.15		703		25.64		33		1.20		55		2.01		1,248		45.51		2,742
	McClain		10,160		67.53		4,458		29.63		225		1.50		203		1.35		5,702		37.90		15,046
	McCurtain		5,566		67.48		2,311		28.02		160		1.94		211		2.56		3,255		39.46		8,248
	McIntosh		4,028		62.20		2,300		35.52		70		1.08		78		1.20		1,728		26.68		6,476
	Major		2,151		79.93		470		17.47		31		1.15		39		1.45		1,681		62.46		2,691
	Marshall		2,958		67.37		1,312		29.88		49		1.12		72		1.64		1,646		37.49		4,391
	Mayes		8,031		63.49		4,205		33.24		191		1.51		223		1.76		3,826		30.25		12,650
	Murray		2,718		63.94		1,398		32.89		93		2.19		42		0.99		1,320		31.05		4,251
	Muskogee		9,835		55.27		7,517		42.24		230		1.29		214		1.20		2,318		13.01		17,796
	Noble		2,461		64.53		1,240		32.51		61		1.60		52		1.36		1,221		32.02		3,814
	Nowata		2,302		69.27		916		27.57		62		1.87		43		1.29		1,386		41.70		3,323
	Okfuskee		1,785		60.61		1,067		36.23		41		1.39		52		1.77		718		24.38		2,945
	Oklahoma		93,466		42.00		122,996		55.27		2,868		1.29		3,224		1.45		-29,530		-13.27		222,554
	Okmulgee		6,187		58.18		4,186		39.36		143		1.34		119		1.12		2,001		18.82		10,635
	Osage		9,053		59.93		5,656		37.44		226		1.50		170		1.13		3,397		22.49		15,105
	Ottawa		4,718		61.37		2,649		34.46		160		2.08		161		2.09		2,069		26.91		7,688
	Pawnee		3,354		66.46		1,554		30.79		77		1.53		63		1.23		1,800		35.67		5,047
	Payne		11,029		49.82		10,561		47.71		294		1.33		254		1.15		468		2.11		22,138
	Pittsburg		8,322		65.57		3,973		31.31		164		1.29		232		1.83		4,349		34.26		12,691
	Pontotoc		5,748		51.30		5,068		45.23		192		1.71		197		1.76		680		6.07		11,205
	Pottawatomie		12,415		59.94		7,651		36.94		339		1.64		308		1.49		4,764		23.00		20,713
	Pushmataha		2,309		70.03		870		26.39		66		2.00		52		1.58		1,439		43.64		3,297
	Roger Mills		1,092		82.73		191		14.47		23		1.74		14		1.06		901		68.26		1,320
	Rogers		22,581		66.55		10,527		31.02		440		1.30		385		1.13		12,054		35.53		33,933
	Seminole		3,642		62.14		2,050		34.98		84		1.43		85		1.45		1,592		27.16		5,861
	Sequoyah		6,516		63.42		3,329		32.40		198		1.93		231		2.25		3,187		31.02		10,274
	Stephens		8,957		69.29		3,580		27.29		282		2.15		297		2.26		5,377		41.00		13,116
	Texas		2,806		76.71		712		19.46		51		1.46		89		2.43		2,094		57.25		3,658
	Tillman		1,203		65.03		565		30.54		42		2.27		40		2.16		638		34.49		1,850
	Tulsa		94,981		48.94		95,396		49.15		2,194		1.13		1,524		0.79		-415		-0.21		194,095
	Wagoner		17,434		64.88		8,846		32.92		317		1.18		273		1.02		8,588		31.96		26,870
	Washington		11,152		65.02		5,578		32.52		217		1.27		204		1.19		5,574		32.50		17,151
	Washita		2,633		73.65		841		23.52		61		1.71		40		1.12		1,792		50.13		3,575
	Woods		1,816		67.21		804		29.76		45		1.67		37		1.37		1,012		37.45		2,702
	Woodward		4,001		74.41		1,225		22.78		82		1.53		69		1.28		2,776		51.63		5,377
Totals	639,484	55.45	481,904	41.79	16,243	1.41	15,653	1.36	157,580	13.66	1,153,284

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Cherokee (Largest city: Tahlequah)
• Muskogee (Largest city: Muskogee)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Tulsa (Largest city: Tulsa)

By congressional district

Stitt won 4 of 5 congressional districts, with Hofmeister winning the remaining one, which elected a Republican.^[34]

District	Stitt	Hofmeister	Representative
		52%	47%		Kevin Hern
	64%	34%		Markwayne Mullin (117th Congress)
			Josh Brecheen (118th Congress)
		62%	36%		Frank Lucas
		54%	44%		Tom Cole
		49.3%	49.4%		Stephanie Bice

See also

• 2022 Oklahoma elections

Notes

Partisan clients

External links

Official campaign websites

• Natalie Bruno (L) for Governor
• Joy Hofmeister (D) for Governor
• Kevin Stitt (R) for Governor
• Ervin Yen (I) for Governor

Notes and References

1. News: Hoberock . Barbara . 8 November 2022 . Gov. Kevin Stitt wins second term . . 9 November 2022.
2. Web site: 2022 Statutory Election Dates and Deadlines . 13 October 2021 . oklahoma.gov . Oklahoma State Election Board . April 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220425080130/https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/elections/dates-and-deadlines/2022-statutory-dates-deadlines.pdf . dead .
3. News: Forman . Carmen . Second Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate changes political affiliation, abandons GOP . 20 October 2021 . The Oklahoman . 19 October 2021.
4. News: Forman . Carmen . Gov. Kevin Stitt's campaign to pull ads after Oklahoma prosecutor says he will investigate . 19 June 2022 . The Oklahoman . 8 June 2022.
5. Web site: Gov. Kevin Stitt Files Paperwork To Run For Re-Election in 2022 . News 9 . en . January 15, 2021.
6. News: DenHoed . Andrea . Kevin Stitt, Joy Hofmeister advance in governor's race . 29 June 2022 . NonDoc . 28 June 2022.
7. News: Prather . Megan . Crowded fields for most statewide offices in Oklahoma . 16 April 2022 . NonDoc . 16 April 2022.
8. News: Savage . Tres . Joel Kintsel to challenge Kevin Stitt in GOP primary . 7 April 2022 . NonDoc . 7 April 2022.
9. News: Krehbiel . Randy . Candidates file for Oklahoma offices including governor, congressman, attorney general . 16 April 2022 . Tulsa World . 14 April 2021.
10. News: Forman . Carmen . Broken Arrow Republican to jump into governor's race, challenge Stitt from the right . 10 September 2021 . The Oklahoman . 9 September 2021.
11. News: After eight years, Shannon ready for one more race . 10 March 2022 . Tulsa World . 10 March 2022.
12. Web site: 'An obvious contrast': Gubernatorial candidates in Okla. Democratic primary offer spectrum .
13. Web site: Johnson, Hofmeister face off for Democratic nomination in governor race . June 19, 2022 .
14. Web site: Democrats welcome Hofmeister's defection | the Journal Record . October 7, 2021 .
15. Web site: Hofmeister is running as a Democrat. Would she govern like one? .
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21. News: Oklahoma . 30 June 2021 . Politics1 . 22 June 2021.
22. News: Patterson . Matt . Savage . Tres . Browne . Archiebald . As local elections take shape, Kevin Calvey joins OK County DA race . 26 November 2021 . NonDoc . 8 November 2021.
23. Web site: Former state Sen. Ervin Yen officially announces campaign for Oklahoma governor . KOCO . en . November 8, 2020.
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34. Web site: x.com. August 18, 2024.