In Oklahoma, GOP mortgage executive will face former state attorney general in governor race

(Image credit: J Pat Carter/Getty Images)

Kevin Stitt, a political newcomer and owner of a private mortgage company, won Oklahoma's Republican gubernatorial primary runoff on Tuesday, beating Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. Stitt, 45, will face Democrat Drew Edmondson, a former state attorney general, in November. Gov. Mary Fallin (R) is stepping down due to term limits. Stitt ran on his record building up Gateway Mortgage Group into a large national lender, but he also faced negative ads highlighting the role his company played in the 2008 mortgage crisis. Polls show a competitive race.

In northeast Oklahoma, local McDonald's franchisee Kevin Hern will face Tulsa attorney Tim Gilpin for the U.S. House seat vacated by recently appointed NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Republicans have held the seat for three decades.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.