Oklahoma Governor: Check Current Name, Party, Term Limits and Prior Public Experience

Oklahoma's government follows a constitutional framework put in place when it became the 46th state in the United States in 1907. One could consider the Oklahoma government to be divided into three parts: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The branch of the government that we call the executive branch is headed by the governor of Oklahoma, who is the state's chief executive officer and is elected for a 4-year term. One could say there is a bicameral legislative branch of government in Oklahoma, which consists of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, and these two bodies are responsible for making laws in the state.

 The judicial branch includes the Oklahoma Supreme Court and lower courts, which ensure justice and its laws are specified and interpreted. Oklahoma grants much power to its 77 counties and numerous municipalities to govern locally as these subdivisions see needed. Oklahoma has a mix of traditional conservative principles and modern administrative systems, and its government is actively engaged in managing all forms of education, all elements of healthcare, energy oversight, public safety, etc. to meet the needs of its constituents, thus maintaining legitimacy across governmental policies.

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Oklahoma Governor: Kevin Stitt

As of August 2025, Kevin Stitt is the current governor of Oklahoma. He took office in 2019 and is in his second term. Stitt is important in history as the first Native American governor in U.S. history, as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Prior to his political career, Stitt was an accomplished businessman and the founder of Gateway Mortgage. 

Stitt is focused on making Oklahoma more business-friendly, lowering taxes, and streamlining government efficiencies. His administration has implemented projects such as DOGE-OK, which modernizes state agencies and state services while implementing accountability. 

Stitt also serves as the chairperson of the National Governors Association, advocating for policies that expand economic opportunity and innovation. Thus, Stitt's direction may continue to influence future directions for Oklahoma in a variety of areas, including education, energy, and economic development.

Party and Term Limits

Kevin Stitt is a Republican and has served as the governor of Oklahoma since 2019. He was re-elected to a second term in 2022, which began in January 2023. Governors in Oklahoma are limited to four years (a term) and two total terms, whether the terms are served consecutively or not. 

Stitt is currently serving the last of his two terms, and he will be unable to run for the 2026 gubernatorial election. During Stitt's time in office, he has focused on conservative economics, government reform, and business promotion and expansion in Oklahoma. 

As Stitt's final term drags to a close, people are beginning to think about who the next Oklahoma governor will be and how that will further influence the next leader of Oklahoma.

Prior Public Experience 

Here is some of the previous public experience of Kevin Stitt explained in detail: 

No Previous Experience in Politics

Kevin Stitt was a first-time candidate for public office when he ran for governor in 2018. Stitt started as an entrepreneur, and previous to becoming governor, he had no governmental or political experience.

Business Background

Stitt is a successful entrepreneur. He founded Gateway Mortgage in 2000 with $1,000 and a computer. He built it into a national company operating in over 40 states.

Gateway First Bank

Under Stitt's guidance, in 2018 the company merged with Gateway First Bank, now one of the largest banks in Oklahoma and most well-known and trusted among Oklahomans, and had over $2 billion in assets and over 1400 employees.

Entry into Politics

Stitt's skill as a business leader who could bring efficiency from the private sector to the government was a big boost to his campaign. He was elected governor of Oklahoma in 2018 with conservative voters strongly backing his candidacy.