Kevin Stitt is the Governor of Oklahoma. He assumed office on January 14, 2019. His current term ends on January 11, 2027. Stitt was born in Florida and moved to Oklahoma when he was five. According to his official biography, Stitt is a fourth generation Oklahoman. Stitt is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the second Native American to be elected as governor in the United States. Stitt graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in accounting. Before running for governor, Stitt founded and was the CEO of Gateway Mortgage. In 2018, the company operated in 41 states. According to a profile by The Oklahoman, Stitt became interested in politics after attending the National Prayer Breakfast in 2017. Stitt first ran for office when he ran for and won election for governor of Oklahoma in 2018. In the campaign, Stitt focused on his business experience and said: "My priority will be to deliver reform that makes our state government accountable and transparent to Oklahomans." Incumbent Gov. Mary Fallin was term limited and endorsed Stitt, but he refused to accept her endorsement. A spokesperson for his campaign said, "We did not seek (Fallin's endorsement), and Kevin Stitt has run on a campaign message that he will do things a lot differently." Several national conservative figures endorsed Stitt in the race, including President Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, and former Senator Rick Santorum.
