Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s remarks on federal concerns and NGA transition
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is hosting fellow governors in Oklahoma City this weekend as his tenure as National Governors Association chair draws to a close. Stitt is preparing to hand the organization’s leadership to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
Stitt used the occasion to address what he described as growing federal overreach. He expressed concern over efforts to federalize elections, warning about their potential impact. He also said a large federal government has contributed to the country’s tense political climate, according to the Associated Press.
A tenure marked by a Trump dispute
Stitt’s time as NGA chair was defined in part by a public clash with President Donald Trump during the annual gathering of state leaders in Washington in February. Trump refused to allow two Democratic governors to attend a White House meeting, a decision that drew pushback from Stitt, according to the Associated Press.
Stitt pressed Trump to reverse the decision, according to the Associated Press. Trump did ultimately reverse course, but not before publicly attacking Stitt, labeling him a “RINO” — Republican in name only.
The episode underscored the tensions between the Republican governor and the president over questions of gubernatorial access to the White House and the role of political affiliation in executive-branch engagements with state leaders.