Five OK Tribes Unite To Endorse Dem Gov Nominee

The Frontier reports:

Five of Oklahoma’s largest tribes will publicly endorse Democrat Joy Hofmeister for governor at a press conference in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, a source with knowledge of the plans confirmed to The Frontier. The endorsement will mark the first time the state’s five largest tribes have coordinated a collective endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a brief interview.

“No surprises here. (Hofmeister) has always been bought and paid for by special interests,” Gov. Kevin Stitt’s campaign manager, said. Stitt, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has had a frosty relationship with tribes and tribal leaders. Stitt fought to overturn the landmark 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened the state’s ability to prosecute some crimes on Native American land.

Read the full article. Last year Hofmeister switched her lifelong party affiliation from Republican in order to challenge Stitt in the general election. She won the Democratic primary in June by 22 points. A poll released last week showed her leading Stitt by four points.

Scoop: The states five biggest Tribes plan on endorsing @joy4ok tomorrow.

Cherokee Nation Principle Chief Chuck Hoskin said this is the first time in recent history that the Council has coordinated a joint endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate https://t.co/aX4gcebDy7

— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) October 10, 2022