Tulsa World endorsed candidates in several Oklahoma elections, including Kevin Stitt. graphic by Conner Maggio

Tulsa World endorses Kevin Stitt

The paper announced their endorsement of Stitt, a political outsider.

Oklahoma’s gubernatorial election approaches, and with it comes discussion of change, something citizens claim the state desperately needs. Republican candidate Kevin Stitt and Democratic Party nominee Drew Edmondson share a common interest: listening to people’s desires and getting results.

And as the election comes closer, Tulsa World has officially endorsed Kevin Stitt for governor.

Edmondson and Stitt, Tulsa World finds, both agree on the direction the state government should move in favor of change, although the two differ in strategy. While Stitt urges for an efficient government, Edmondson advocates for more state revenue. Edmondson, as Attorney General of Oklahoma for 16 years, has a greater understanding of the inner workings of the government. Stitt, according to Tulsa World, “has a young outsider’s willingness to try different things.”

Stitt started Gateway Mortgage Co., a 1,200-employee company that receives $6 billion a year in mortgages. This means he will be working in a completely foreign environment, and according to Tulsa World, there is no evidence he has voted in a governor’s race until he put his name on the ballot.

Despite this, Tulsa World believes Stitt has “the energy and creativity to change Oklahoma.”

Tulsa World admits it was not convinced Stitt would be an adequate governor, as his political experience was lacking. However, the newspaper argues that he has displayed growth in his understanding of the facets of state government and spent his campaign time listening to Oklahoman citizens. He wants better results from the government, and Tulsa World claims, “We think Stitt has the better chance of making that happen.”

Arguments against Stitt cite his lack of regular voting and experience. In a published letter to the Tulsa World editor, Dr. Jean Root of Broken Arrow wrote, “Stitt appears to have no clue as to the functions and purpose of state government and seems to believe that a starvation diet is the only cure for government waste.”

Root accused the newspaper of being “blatantly ageist” because it claimed Stitt has more energy and creativity to change Oklahoma’s policies, supposedly implying that Edmondson would not have the energy or creativity to get results due to his older age.

Another published letter to the editor features Priscilla Mayfield of Tulsa, who argued, “We have been under single-party control for too long. We need new blue blood in our legislature.”

Currently, Tulsa World features endorsements from both Democratic and Republican parties. On Oct. 24, the newspaper also recommended Melissa Provenzano, a Democrat running for House District 79. Sheila Dills, a Republican running for House District 69, was endorsed for her conservative positions that reflected her constituency and community involvement. Ultimately, the goal of the newspaper is to find whomever will be most effective in office, regardless of party.

Regardless of positions on these issues, Tulsa World urges its readers to vote, writing “The foundation of the American system is self-government through free, fair elections.”

Post Author: Anna Johns