Kevin Stitt Bio
John Kevin Stitt (born December 28, 1972) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 28th Governor of Oklahoma since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, building his public image around private-sector experience and conservative policy priorities. Before entering politics, Stitt founded Gateway Mortgage Group and served as its chairman and CEO, growing the company into a midsize lender operating in all 50 states.
Stitt is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation through his maternal line and has spoken openly about his Native American heritage. His tenure as governor has focused on government restructuring, criminal justice reform, and contentious debates over tribal gaming compacts, education, and public health policy.
Early Life and Background
John Kevin Stitt was born in Milton, Florida, on December 28, 1972, to Reverend John L. Stitt and Joyce Stitt. His mother is of Cherokee descent, and Stitt is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation through his great-grandfather, Robert Benton Dawson, who received land in the Skiatook area because of his tribal citizenship. That land remains in the family today, now owned by an uncle of the governor.
The family moved to Skiatook, Oklahoma, when Kevin was five, and he later began school in Wayne, Oklahoma, before relocating to Norman, where his father served as pastor of Riverside Church. Growing up alongside cousins who participated in the All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association, Stitt developed a strong connection to his Native American heritage. He graduated from Norman High School and went on to earn a degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University, where he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Stitt’s maternal grandparents were dairy farmers in Skiatook, while his paternal grandfather served as the head veterinarian at the Oklahoma City Stockyards, giving him roots in both rural Oklahoma and the agricultural traditions of the state.
Path to US Politics
Stitt launched his professional career with the Southwestern Company, a door-to-door educational bookseller, before moving to Tulsa, where he met his future wife, Sarah Hazen. In 2000, the couple founded Gateway Mortgage Group, which Stitt grew from a small startup into a national mortgage company operating in all 50 states. He served as president and CEO until January 2014, when he transitioned to the role of chairman and CEO.
Although Gateway experienced rapid growth, it also faced regulatory scrutiny. Reports during his gubernatorial campaign noted past issues, including a 2009 Business Insider article listing Gateway among lenders with high rates of non-compliant loans. Stitt stepped down as CEO in August 2018 after winning the Republican nomination, as the company pursued a merger with a state-licensed bank. Legal counsel Scott Gesell became CEO in 2020, while Stitt remained chairman.
Stitt announced his candidacy for governor in July 2017, framing himself as the only true job creator in the race. He campaigned in all 77 Oklahoma counties, finished second in the primary, and defeated former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in the August 2018 runoff, earning endorsements from U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, former Senator Tom Coburn, and former Senator Rick Santorum.
Kevin Stitt Career
Early Career (2000–2018)
Stitt built Gateway Mortgage Group from a one-person operation into a midsize lender headquartered in Jenks, Oklahoma, during nearly two decades in the financial services industry. He often cited starting the company in 2000 with “$1,000 and a computer,” a narrative that became central to his political brand.
As Gateway expanded nationally, the company encountered regulatory challenges in several states, including fines and license disputes in Illinois, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Stitt’s campaign consistently defended the company’s record, emphasizing that Gateway corrected issues and remained in good standing. His business career positioned him as an outsider candidate heading into the 2018 gubernatorial race.
2018 Gubernatorial Breakthrough
In the August 28, 2018, Republican primary runoff, Stitt defeated Mick Cornett to secure the GOP nomination. He went on to face Democrat Drew Edmondson and Libertarian Chris Powell in the general election, ultimately winning with 54.3% of the vote. Vice President Mike Pence campaigned on his behalf, and Stitt received endorsements from President Donald Trump, Governor Mary Fallin, and his former primary rival Cornett.
Stitt was inaugurated on January 14, 2019, at the Oklahoma State Capitol, where Chief Justice Noma Gurich swore him and Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell into office. He delivered a 15-minute inaugural address outlining his top-ten goals for jobs, education, and infrastructure.
Governor’s Office (2019–Present)
Since taking office, Stitt has prioritized government restructuring, signing legislation giving him direct appointment power over several major state agencies, including the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
His tenure has been marked by high-profile policy fights, including the negotiation of tribal gaming compacts, the signing of restrictive abortion laws, gun-permit legislation that expanded firearm carry rights, and executive orders related to transgender policy and birth certificates. Stitt also faced the COVID-19 pandemic as the first U.S. governor to test positive for the virus in July 2020.
Reelection and Second Term (2022–Present)
Stitt filed for reelection in January 2021 and won the Republican primary in June 2022. In the November general election, he defeated Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, a Republican turned Democrat, with 55.4% of the vote, securing a second term as governor.
During his second term, Stitt has continued to advance conservative priorities, including support for legalizing sports betting in Oklahoma, opposition to Medicaid expansion, and judicial redistricting reforms. He has also commuted the death sentences of Julius Jones in 2021 and Tremane Wood in 2025, drawing both praise and criticism.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Stitt’s most defining moments as governor was his push to renegotiate tribal gaming compacts in 2019 and 2020, a fight that ended with a federal court ruling in favor of the tribes and complicated his relationship with Native American leaders. In 2021, he signed a bill prohibiting the teaching of critical race theory in Oklahoma public schools, and in 2023 he issued the Women’s Bill of Rights executive order defining sex as biological sex at birth.
Kevin Stitt Career Wins
Kevin Stitt has won two gubernatorial elections in Oklahoma, first defeating Democrat Drew Edmondson in 2018 and later defeating Joy Hofmeister in 2022. His political victories reflect consistent support from Oklahoma’s conservative electorate, particularly in rural counties.
Gubernatorial Election Highlights
Stitt’s first gubernatorial win came on November 6, 2018, when he captured 54.3% of the vote against Drew Edmondson. Four years later, he expanded his margin, winning 55.4% of the vote against Hofmeister, a result that demonstrated sustained popularity despite national political headwinds for Republicans.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond electoral success, Stitt’s signature legislative achievement was his 2019 government reorganization, which gave him direct control over five major state agencies. He also successfully negotiated a hunting and fishing license compact extension with the Choctaw Nation in late 2019, resolving one of several disputes with tribal governments.
Kevin Stitt Family
Family Background and Heritage
Stitt is the son of Reverend John L. Stitt and Joyce Stitt. His mother is of Cherokee descent, and through his great-grandfather Robert Benton Dawson, he is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Dawson was granted land in the Skiatook area because of his tribal citizenship, and that land remains in family hands today. Stitt’s maternal grandparents were dairy farmers in Skiatook, while his paternal grandfather was the head veterinarian at the Oklahoma City Stockyards.
Personal Life
Stitt married Sarah Hazen on June 1, 1998, and the couple has six children. The family lives in Oklahoma and is active with Woodlake Church, an Assemblies of God USA church in Tulsa. Stitt has frequently spoken about his faith and his Native American heritage as central parts of his personal identity.