By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA — Tribes, lawmakers and organizations from across the state are giving their reactions to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s final State of the State Address.
You can view Gov. Stitt’s full 2026 State of the State Address below:
Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) released the following statement:
“The governor’s State of the State was out of touch with the daily challenges most Oklahomans are facing. His proposals would make things worse by stripping away healthcare and staying silent on how folks can keep up on the rising cost of living. Senate Democrats are committed to putting people over politics to find real solutions to the problems Oklahomans face every day.
All children deserve a great education. Hard-working Oklahomans deserve housing, insurance, and health care they can afford. They deserve wages that reflect their hard work. Right now, far too many people in our state are struggling, and none of the ideas the governor suggested today really alleviate those struggles. We have legislation that will address these issues, and are ready to get to work, reaching across the aisle to make real changes that will improve the lives of Oklahomans in every part of our state.”
House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) released the following statement:
“The Governor’s State of the State Address did not make me confident he is listening to and prioritizing the needs of everyday working Oklahomans. He touted historic investments during his tenure as Governor, but those are the result of historic cuts made to core services on which Oklahomans rely. Nearly 50% of working Oklahomans cannot afford basic necessities, which contradicts his claim that the state is the strongest it has ever been.
The Governor’s plan to put state questions back on the ballot—questions that Oklahomans overwhelmingly support—shows a distrust in Oklahoma voters and a refusal to listen to their lived experiences and daily challenges. We are ranked last in the nation when it comes to public education. We are nearly last in the nation when it comes to health outcomes and access to health care services. Every elected official at the Capitol right now represents Oklahomans who are struggling with health care costs and access. Cutting Medicaid expansion—of which nearly half of the recipients are children—would be devastating for the over one million Oklahomans that rely on it.
I agree that we need better access to affordable housing and improved literacy rates. I don’t agree that eliminating the cap on the Parental Tax Credit, diverting millions away from our public schools to put into private schools, is the way to achieve that. I also don’t agree that cutting the state’s income tax, only benefitting the wealthiest Oklahomans, would help with the growing need for housing in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma House Democrats know that Oklahomans are struggling. We have put forth several policies that we know will help. We must not let the Governor attempt to gaslight Oklahomans into believing they live in an Oklahoma they, quite frankly, do not. Working Oklahoma families voice their needs every day, and this speech did not address solutions to their daily struggles.
His comments today about our tribes were deeply troubling. The Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus supports tribal sovereignty and acknowledges that our tribes fill important gaps in our education and healthcare systems, as well as other areas throughout our state. I am extremely grateful for the work our tribes have done and continue to do despite vicious attacks on them by the Governor.
House Democrats stand ready to work across the aisle to represent the needs of working Oklahoma families. I am hopeful the Governor will join us in our efforts to truly strengthen our state and invest in our future. We are here to serve every Oklahoman and improve their daily lives, and that is a mission we will fulfill no matter what.”
Many of the reactions addressed Gov. Stitt’s relationship with Oklahoma’s tribal nations.
David Hill, the Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, released the following statement:
“Today the Governor, once again, proved that he has no true understanding of the state which he governs. Oklahoma’s proud indigenous history certainly doesn’t include participating in a run for land, tribal citizens are not poachers for exercising treaty rights, and DEI policies have absolutely nothing to do with people having the specific political rights and status of citizens belonging to sovereign Nations. The only good thing I can say about the Governor’s comments today regarding tribal matters, is that they are his last in the Oklahoma people’s house.”
Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, released the following statement:
“The Choctaw Nation has always been and remains committed to mutually beneficial cooperation with the state of Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Gov. Stitt continues to misrepresent our relationship, the current state of affairs and our history.
Tribes and Tribal members have sovereign rights, which are based not on race, but on treaties and other agreements between our nations and the United States. Gov. Stitt must recognize this history and respect what it means today.
Unlike corporate entities that can come and go, the Choctaw Nation has always been and will always be a vital part of Oklahoma. We wish Gov. Stitt could see this. Until then, we will continue to work with the Legislature and other officials to advance everyone’s interests.”
House Tribal and External Affairs Leader Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee) released the following statement:
“With the leaders of many of our Native American tribes looking on from the House gallery, the governor made a mockery of our state’s unique history and the valued partnership our state has had with our tribal citizens for over 100 years. The governor says he has worked tirelessly to maintain unity of one Oklahoma, however he continues to ignore the reality of who we are as a state and single-handedly has destroyed decades of collaboration between state and tribal leaders.
When the governor, in his last State of the State speech, had the opportunity to correct the wrongs he has inflicted on our state’s tribes, he instead chose to exacerbate the divide and ignore the partnerships that have benefited Oklahomans for years in health care, public safety, education, infrastructure and many other areas of potential collaboration.
The Supreme Court ruling did not in any way make half of our state a reservation, and the governor knows it. The McGirt decision simply affirmed the U.S. Constitutional law of citizens who were unjustly removed from their homes and were given a promise of self-governance.
The end of Governor Stitt’s term gives us an opportunity to build on existing partnerships with our tribes. I hope our state’s next governor embraces and respects these sovereigns and their many contributions to the state.”
Other organizations addressed specific sections of Gov. Stitt’s address.
The Oklahoma Hospital Association released the following statement addressing Gov. Stitt’s comments on Medicaid expansion:
“When Oklahoma voters approved Medicaid expansion in 2020, the goal was to expand access to care and improve health outcomes. And the results are clear. Since then, Oklahoma’s national health ranking has improved, the uninsured rate has dropped, and maternal morbidity outcomes now rank among the best in the country. These gains reflect the daily commitment of hospitals and healthcare providers across the state to serve their communities. The governor’s comments today are short on details, and we believe that the state Legislature and President Trump have already given the state the tools to adjust the program, including work requirements.
Medicaid expansion is a cost-efficient system largely funded by hospitals, not taxpayers, and limiting it would undermine care for all Oklahomans.”
