History of Kevin Stitt in Timeline

Kevin Stitt, a Republican, is the 28th governor of Oklahoma. Elected in 2018 and 2022, he is the second Native American governor of the state. As a member of the Cherokee Nation, his governorship marks a significant moment in Oklahoma's political history. Before entering politics, Stitt was a successful businessman.

1900: Cherokee Ancestry and Land Ownership

Stitt's great-grandfather, Robert Benton Dawson, a Cherokee Nation citizen, was granted land in Skiatook, which remains in the family. There were questions raised about Dawson's inclusion in the Dawes Rolls, but the Cherokee Nation currently acknowledges Stitt's citizenship.

December 28, 1972: Kevin Stitt is Born

John Kevin Stitt was born on December 28, 1972.

1976: Gregg v. Georgia Reinstates Death Penalty

The death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976 following the Supreme Court's decision in Gregg v. Georgia.

1998: Marriage

Kevin Stitt married Sarah Hazen in 1998.

2000: Stitt Founds Gateway Mortgage Group

Kevin Stitt founded Gateway Mortgage Group in 2000 with limited resources, working to obtain FHA lender approval.

2002: Gateway Mortgage Group Expands

In 2002, Gateway Mortgage Group secured its first warehouse line, expanded its licensing to other states, and began hiring loan officers.

2004: Oklahoma Voters Approve State-Tribal Gaming Act

In 2004, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 712, adopting the Oklahoma State-Tribal Gaming Act. This act paved the way for commercial gambling by federally recognized Indian tribes within the state under a compact agreement.

2006: Gateway Mortgage Group Reaches 400 Employees

By 2006, Gateway Mortgage Group had grown to over 400 employees.

2009: Business Insider Labels Gateway a "Shady Lender"

In 2009, Business Insider included Gateway Mortgage Group on a list of "shady lenders" involved in the government-backed mortgage industry.

2009: Gateway Fined in Wisconsin for Clerical Error

In 2009, Gateway Mortgage Group was fined by Wisconsin regulators for a "clerical error" on an application. The company corrected the error and received its license.

January 2014: Stitt Transitions to Chairman-CEO of Gateway

In January 2014, Kevin Stitt stepped down as president and CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group and became chairman-CEO.

April 2014: Botched Execution of Clayton Lockett

The botched execution of Clayton Lockett occurred in April 2014.

January 2015: Charles Warner Executed by Unauthorized Methods

Charles Warner was executed in January 2015 using unauthorized methods.

2016: Oklahoma Voters Approve State Question 780

In 2016, Oklahoma voters passed State Question 780, reclassifying simple drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor and increasing the threshold for property crimes to be classified as felonies.

July 2017: Stitt Announces Candidacy for Governor

Kevin Stitt announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma in July 2017.

November 2017: Gateway's Georgia Ban Overturned

In November 2017, a lifetime ban on Gateway Mortgage Group operating in Georgia was overturned.

August 2018: Stitt Steps Down as Gateway CEO

Kevin Stitt stepped down as CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group in August 2018 during his campaign for governor, but remained chairman.

August 19, 2018: Oklahoman Newspaper Defends Gateway's Practices

On August 19, 2018, The Oklahoman newspaper published an article refuting claims made in a Business Insider article about Gateway Mortgage Group's lending practices.

2018: State Question 780 Reduces Felony Prosecution Rate

By 2018, State Question 780 had significantly impacted the state's criminal justice system, contributing to a 26% reduction in the felony prosecution rate.

2018: Stitt is Elected Governor of Oklahoma

In 2018, Kevin Stitt was elected as the 28th governor of Oklahoma, defeating Democrat Drew Edmondson.

2018: Oklahoma Imprisons Most Women Per Capita

In 2018, Oklahoma had the highest incarceration rate for women in the United States.

2018: Oklahoma Legalizes Medical Marijuana

In 2018, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 788, legalizing the licensed use, sale, and cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes.

2018: Stitt Wins Republican Primary Runoff

Kevin Stitt won the Republican primary runoff election against Mick Cornett in August 2018.

January 14, 2019: Stitt Inaugurated as Governor

Kevin Stitt was inaugurated as the 28th governor of Oklahoma on January 14, 2019, at the Oklahoma State Capitol.

May 2019: Stitt Proposes Criminal Justice Reforms

In May 2019, Stitt put forward several proposals to address Oklahoma's overincarceration crisis, including making the sentencing standards of State Question 780 retroactive and reforming professional licensing regulations for people with criminal records.

July 2019: Stitt Seeks Renegotiation of Tribal Gaming Compact

In July 2019, Stitt publicly called for the renegotiation of the state's gaming compact with Native American tribes. He aimed to increase the exclusivity fees tribes pay to the state, a move that ignited tensions and legal debates regarding the compact's terms and renewal process.

August 2019: Tribal Disputes Over Gaming Compacts

In August 2019, several Oklahoma tribes refused to meet with Governor Stitt to renegotiate gaming compact exclusivity fees unless he acknowledged the automatic renewal clause. Stitt's proposed September 3 discussion date was rejected by the tribes.

December 2019: Tribes File Lawsuit and Hunting-Fishing Compact Extension

In December 2019, the Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw tribes filed a lawsuit to resolve the gaming compact dispute. Also that month, Stitt signed an extension to the hunting and fishing license compact with the Choctaw Nation.

December 23, 2019: Lisa Johnson Billy Resigns from Stitt's Cabinet

On December 23, 2019, Lisa Johnson Billy resigned from her position in Kevin Stitt's cabinet, citing disagreements over his handling of gambling compact negotiations with Native American tribes in the state.

2019: Stitt Takes Office as Governor

Kevin Stitt began serving as the 28th governor of Oklahoma in 2019.

January 1, 2020: Oklahoma State-Tribal Gaming Compact Set for Automatic Renewal

The Oklahoma State-Tribal Gaming Compact, approved by voters in 2004, was set to automatically renew on January 1, 2020. The compact established a framework for commercial gambling by federally recognized Indian tribes in Oklahoma.

February 13, 2020: Stitt Announces End to Execution Moratorium

On February 13, 2020, Kevin Stitt announced the lifting of Oklahoma's moratorium on executions, which had been in place since 2015.

March 2020: Dining Out Amidst Pandemic

During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, Stitt dined out with his children and shared a photo on Twitter, which he later removed. His spokesperson defended his actions, stating that the governor would continue to dine out and shop without fear.

April 2020: Large Hydroxychloroquine Purchase

Stitt authorized a significant purchase of hydroxychloroquine in April 2020, despite its unproven effectiveness against COVID-19. The drug was heavily promoted by then-President Trump and his allies.

July 9, 2020: Supreme Court's McGirt v. Oklahoma Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in McGirt v. Oklahoma on July 9, 2020, affirming that half of Oklahoma, consisting of tribal nations like the Cherokee, is officially Native American land.

July 2020: Video with Inaccurate Claims About Native American Rights

A video made by Stitt in July 2020 surfaced, containing false claims regarding Native American rights, including an assertion that they are not subject to speed limits.

July 28, 2020: Ruling Favors Tribes in Gaming Compact Case

On July 28, 2020, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the gaming compacts between the state of Oklahoma and several tribes automatically renewed on January 1, 2020, for an additional 15 years.

2020: Gubernatorial Appointment Process for Oklahoma State Courts

As of 2020, the governor of Oklahoma holds the responsibility of appointing judges to Oklahoma state courts upon vacancies. The process involves a review by the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission, which then provides the governor with three candidates for selection.

2020: Stitt Forms Study Group for Criminal Justice Reform

Following legislative setbacks on some of his reform proposals, Stitt established a study group in 2020 to provide recommendations for further criminal justice reform, particularly focusing on reducing Oklahoma's incarceration rate.

2020: Scott Gesell Becomes CEO of Gateway

Scott Gesell became CEO of Gateway in 2020, while Kevin Stitt remained chairman.

2020: Reorganization of Oklahoma's Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals

Stitt signed legislation in 2020 that restructured Oklahoma's Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals, redrawing judicial districts to align with congressional districts, aiming to broaden the pool of applicants.

January 2021: Surplus Hydroxychloroquine Stockpile

By January 2021, Oklahoma faced a surplus of $2 million worth of hydroxychloroquine, which it sought to offload, highlighting the consequences of the earlier purchase.

January 2021: Stitt Files for Re-election

Kevin Stitt filed for re-election as governor of Oklahoma in January 2021.

May 7, 2021: Stitt Bans Critical Race Theory in Public Schools

On May 7, 2021, Stitt signed a bill into law prohibiting the teaching of critical race theory and its gender equivalent in Oklahoma public schools, sparking debate about the teaching of race and history in the state's education system.

July 30, 2021: Low Social Media Engagement on Vaccination

An Oklahoma Watch review on July 30, 2021, revealed Stitt had minimal social media presence promoting COVID-19 vaccination compared to neighboring states' governors. Only 1.53% of his tweets encouraged vaccination.

November 18, 2021: Stitt Commutes Julius Jones' Sentence

Kevin Stitt commuted the death sentence of Julius Jones to life in prison without parole on November 18, 2021.

2021: Oklahoma's Unsuccessful Bid to Block Federal Action

In 2021, Oklahoma failed to block the federal government's move to grant reservation status to the Cherokee Nation, as well as the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole Nations.

2021: Oklahoma has Third-Highest Incarceration Rate

Oklahoma had the third-highest incarceration rate in the United States in 2021, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

April 2022: Stitt Signs Restrictive Abortion Ban into Law

Kevin Stitt signed into law SB 612 in April 2022, which criminalized performing an abortion in Oklahoma.

May 25, 2022: Stitt Signs Bill Restricting Transgender Students' Bathroom Access

On May 25, 2022, Stitt signed a bill requiring students in Oklahoma public schools and charter schools to use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates, further fueling the debate on transgender rights in the state.

June 2022: Stitt Wins Republican Primary

Kevin Stitt won the Republican primary election in June 2022.

October 31, 2022: Son Found Intoxicated

On October 31, 2022, Kevin Stitt's son was found intoxicated in a parking lot in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He was in possession of firearms, including one belonging to his father. While the Logan County Sheriff's Office recommended charges, none were filed.

2022: Stitt Restricts Transgender Rights on Birth Certificates

In 2022, Stitt signed a law prohibiting nonbinary gender markers on birth certificates, following an earlier executive order barring transgender individuals from changing their gender on these documents. This sparked criticism from transgender communities and advocacy groups.

2022: Grand Jury Report Criticizes Stitt's Pardon and Parole Board Practices

In 2022, a grand jury report authored by David Prater criticized Stitt's involvement with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, alleging improper pressure and potential violations of the Open Meetings Act. Stitt's office refuted the claims, characterizing them as politically motivated attacks.

2022: Stitt Rescinds Parole for Jimmie Stohler

Kevin Stitt initially agreed to grant parole to Jimmie Stohler, known as the "Crossbow Killer," in 2022 but later reversed his decision.

2022: Stitt Wins Re-election

Kevin Stitt was re-elected for a second term as governor of Oklahoma in 2022, defeating Joy Hofmeister.

2022: Pressure Leads to Resignations from Parole Board

Two members of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, Adam Luck and Kelley Doyle, were pressured to resign in 2022.

January 2023: Support for Sports Betting Legalization

Stitt declared his support for legalizing sports betting in Oklahoma in January 2023 after a bill was introduced to permit federally recognized tribes to offer it.

May 2023: Veto of Tribal Regalia Bill

Stitt vetoed a bill in May 2023 that would have permitted students to wear tribal regalia at their graduation ceremonies.

May 2023: Stitt Vetoes Funding for Oklahoma's PBS Network

Stitt vetoed funding for Oklahoma's PBS network, OETA, in May 2023, alleging the broadcasting of pro-LGBT content that he deemed indoctrinating to children. This action was met with opposition and was subsequently overridden by the Oklahoma Legislature.

June 2023: Inaction During Severe Storms and Power Outages

Following severe storms in June 2023 that caused widespread power outages and fatalities, Stitt was criticized for being in Paris and initially not declaring a state of emergency. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat eventually made the declaration as acting governor.

June 2023: Criticism Over Tribal Compact Veto Override

In June 2023, Senator Greg Treat criticized senators absent from a vote to override Stitt's veto on a tribal compact. He called Stitt "ineffective" the following month. Despite an override, Stitt deemed the process "illegitimate." Tribal leaders praised the override.

August 1, 2023: Stitt Issues Women's Bill of Rights

On August 1, 2023, Stitt issued the Women's Bill of Rights via executive order. It defines "male" and "female" based on biological sex at birth, reigniting controversy around gender identity and rights in Oklahoma.

November 2023: Stitt's Video Message to Gamefowl Commission Stirs Controversy

Stitt faced criticism in November 2023 after appearing in a video message at the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission's annual meeting. His words were interpreted as support for the commission's efforts to reduce penalties for cockfighting, leading to backlash from animal rights groups and some political figures. Stitt's office denied any endorsement of cockfighting.