Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) said states should control elections rather than the federal government as Oklahoma City prepares to host the National Governors Association.
The governor's call for reduced partisan fighting comes after a contentious NGA meeting in Washington, D.C., in February 2026 [2]. Stitt's push for unity follows a public clash with President Donald Trump, signaling a desire to lower political tensions within the party and across state lines.
Stitt is hosting the upcoming NGA meeting in Oklahoma City in early August 2026. During the preparations, he said that the administration of elections is a state responsibility. "States, not Washington, should control elections," Stitt said [1].
The governor has recently balanced these calls for unity with high-profile partisan gestures. Earlier this year, Stitt declared Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as “Fox & Friends” Day in Oklahoma [4].
Stitt said the focus for the upcoming gathering should be on cooperation. The governor's effort to tone down rhetoric is seen as a strategic move to stabilize relations between state executives and the federal administration. By positioning the states as the primary authority on election law, Stitt aligns himself with a broader movement seeking to limit federal oversight of voting processes.
The February 2026 meeting served as a backdrop for the current push toward civility [2]. Stitt said that the friction experienced during that session should not define the upcoming proceedings in Oklahoma City.
“"States, not Washington, should control elections."”
Stitt's dual approach—calling for a reduction in partisan conflict while simultaneously honoring a conservative media outlet—reflects the tension between governing stability and political signaling. By advocating for state-led election control, he is reinforcing a legal and political boundary between state sovereignty and federal authority, a central point of contention in U.S. election law.
