Oklahoma schools Superintendent Hofmeister to challenge Stitt for governor as a Democrat

State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister will run for governor as a Democrat, citing a "pattern of ineffective leadership" that led her to challenge Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Hofmeister, a longtime Republican from Tulsa, changed her party affiliation Thursday and announced she aims to unseat Stitt in the 2022 election.

Oklahoma's top education official, Hofmeister is the only candidate in the race, aside from the governor, who has won a statewide election.

She told The Oklahoman she considered running for "many months" and decided to launch a campaign as a Democratic moderate focusing on education, health care and infrastructure.

"I am the same person I was yesterday and have the same values, the same positions as I’ve had before," she said. "... I find common ground with regular Oklahomans that have strong family values and also value the unity that is needed to be able to work for advancing this state. Not dividing Oklahomans, neighbor against neighbor or family against family."

Stitt, a Tulsa Republican, won election in 2018 and has begun fundraising for re-election. Republicans Ervin Yen and Mark Sherwood, Democrat Connie Johnson and Libertarian Natalie Bruno also launched 2022 gubernatorial campaigns.

Hofmeister, 57, cannot run for state superintendent again because she will reach her term limit in 2023. 

More:Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt calls for November special session for redistricting

She said she left her life-long political affiliation after Stitt "hijacked the Republican Party here in Oklahoma." Hofmeister described Stitt's leadership as divisive and partisan, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have seen parents pitted against schools and doctors versus politicians," Hofmeister said. "... Maybe we didn’t need to have a mask mandate across the state, but we did need a governor who wore a mask. We needed a governor who shows the importance of the responsibility of thinking of others, and we need a governor who will lead by example.” 

On her first day as a registered Democrat, Hofmeister said she isn't a stranger to supporting the party's candidate. 

She said she voted for Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma's Democratic nominee, in the 2018 General Election. Edmondson lost to Stitt 54% to 42%.

"I vote for the person," she said. "I don’t think we should vote for the party but do our work, do our research and examine who is the best fit."

Multiple state officials told The Oklahoman that Hofmeister called them Wednesday evening to notify them she would launch her gubernatorial bid as a Democrat.

Trent Smith, a member of the Oklahoma State Board of Education, confirmed Hofmeister contacted him personally.  

Smith said Hofmeister pledged to keep politics out of Board of Education meetings and reaffirmed her commitment to Oklahoma students. 

Hofmeister increasingly outspoken in Stitt criticism

Hofmeister has become an increasingly outspoken critic of Stitt, particularly during the pandemic. She and the governor have repeatedly been at odds over COVID-19 protocols, including mask mandates in public schools. 

More:Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt requests audit of state Education Department

Hofmeister has been a vocal advocate for school mask mandates while Stitt signed legislation blocking such requirements for students and teachers. 

Conflict between the two came to a head on Sept. 16 when the governor requested an investigative audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education. 

Hofmeister said the audit is “yet another attack on Oklahoma’s public education system.” 

“At a time during which there are serious audits we have requested which potentially involve criminal activity, and while 541 school districts are struggling to find normalcy during a pandemic, the Governor’s attack on public education couldn’t be worse timing for students, families, teachers and taxpayers,” she said in a statement Sept. 16. 

Oklahoma has reached a record high in education funding with $3.2 billion dedicated to public schools. However, the state still trails its surrounding neighbors in per-student funding.

"Under Governor Kevin Stitt's leadership, the State has increased its funding of public education to historic highs and enacted another teacher pay raise all while lowering taxes and building the State's largest savings account," said Donelle Harder, Stitt's campaign manager, in a statement. "After decades of politicians leaving us in last place, Stitt has already established a proven track record of progressing Oklahoma towards Top Ten in critical categories while protecting our freedoms and core values."

Political consultant Emily Lang said Hofmeister will be a formidable opponent.

Hofmeister received nearly 43,000 more votes than Stitt in the last election cycle, said Lang, a staff member of Edmondson's 2018 campaign against the current governor.

"Joy Hofmeister has a history of standing up for Oklahoma kids and families," Lang said. "Those are values she shares with Democrats, and I believe she would be welcomed to the party with open arms."

She garnered more than 687,400 votes in the 2018 general election for state superintendent. Stitt earned more than 644,500 votes in his general-election win.

Hofmeister first elected to public office in 2014

Hofmeister won elected office for the first time in 2014 when she defeated incumbent Superintendent Janet Barresi in the Republican primary and Democrat John Cox in the general election. 

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She defeated Cox again in the 2018 general election by nearly 300,000 votes. 

Campaign finance records show her 2018 election committee had only $167.31 left in its final report. Hofmeister said her gubernatorial campaign is already seeing "support rolling in."

She has not yet filed with Oklahoma Ethics Commission, a step that would allow her to raise large amounts of money.

Hofmeister was accused in a criminal case of campaign violations and conspiracy in 2016, stemming from her 2014 campaign.  

The case against Hofmeister and four others was dropped in 2017.

"I knew I was innocent and that I had conducted myself appropriately, and I am happy that this day has come,” Hofmeister said at the time. 

Reporters Chris Casteel and Nolan Clay contributed to this report.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nuria’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.