ADA, Okla. (AP) 鈥� Many of the 39 Native American tribes based in Oklahoma have played roles in state politics for decades, often behind the scenes. They became bigger, more outspoken players when voters approved Las Vegas-style gambling in 2004. The budgets of several major tribes ballooned with casino revenue.
This year, in their most forceful political move yet, they are wielding their considerable influence to for Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who is facing a tough reelection challenge after feuding with the tribes for nearly his entire first term.
With the election just weeks away, five of the state's most powerful tribes jointly endorsed Stitt's Democratic opponent, Joy Hofmeister, the state鈥檚 public schools superintendent who has promised a more cooperative relationship with the tribal nations. It's the first time in modern history that the tribes, which often have unique or competing interests, have weighed in on a governor's race in such a public way.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know that I鈥檝e ever seen (the tribes) more active than they are today,鈥� said Pat McFerron, a longtime Oklahoma GOP political consultant and pollster. 鈥淚 think they might have flown under the radar a little bit more before.鈥�
The effect is an unexpectedly tight race in a deep-red state that is typically an afterthought in national politics. Reflecting concerns about Stitt's vulnerability, the super PAC for the Republican Governors Association released an ad late in the campaign tying Hofmeister 鈥� who as a Democrat 鈥� to President Joe Biden and rising gas prices.
Stitt鈥檚 feud with the tribes began during his first year in office when he unsuccessfully attempted to with the tribes. His administration then sought to overturn a landmark in 2020 and drew the ire of the tribes again last year when he between the state and tribes.
鈥淗e seems to have enjoyed this fight, relishes it and points to it as a badge of honor,鈥� McFerron said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like he鈥檚 taunting them.鈥�
The animosity between Stitt and the tribes has spilled into public view as the midterm elections draw closer. Tribal leaders have , public meetings about law enforcement in Indian Country have turned ugly, and Stitt has faced an .
鈥淎ny governor that postures and attempts dominion of tribes is detrimental to the tribes and the state,鈥� said Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill.
Stitt, a multimillionaire mortgage company owner and political newcomer when he ran four years ago, has been dogged by scandals in his administration, including a that resulted in a criminal probe, intended for education and during the COVID-19 pandemic that doctors had warned shouldn鈥檛 be used to treat the virus without more testing.
Stitt also has touted new laws and , both of which have turned away some moderate Republicans and independents.
For his part, Stitt says he hopes that if he鈥檚 elected to a second term, he will have improved relations with Native American tribes. Yet he insists that the Supreme Court ruling expanding tribal sovereignty has been detrimental to the state.
鈥淚鈥檝e told people I will not go down in history as the governor that gives my state away,鈥� Stitt said. 鈥淎 lot of people want to paint this as an anti-Indian thing. This is not. This is a pro-Oklahoma thing.鈥�
In the leadup to the election, several nonprofit groups that focus on registering and engaging Native American voters say they've never seen this level of enthusiasm among Indian voters in statewide politics.
At a recent voter registration event at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, home of the Chickasaw Nation, a steady stream of students, many of them Native American, signed up to register to vote at an event hosted in part by Rock the Native Vote. That's a nonprofit sponsored by the Indian Methodist Church of Oklahoma that was formed in 2002. In the parking lot were cars with tribal license plates from Cherokee, Chickasaw, Comanche, Kiowa and Otoe-Missouria tribes.
鈥淥ur goal is to get people registered, and more importantly, the Native voters within our state," said 19-year-old Devon Rain Potter, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation who was helping run a registration booth. 鈥淥nce we get Native voters to show up to the polls, we can get a lot of things done."
According to the most , Oklahoma has one of the highest percentages of Native American citizens at nearly 10% of the state's population. An additional 6.6% identify as being two or more races. That's easily enough to tip the scales in a closely contested statewide race.
And it's not just Oklahoma where Native voters are being courted and urged to turn out. The Native Organizers Alliance is targeting Indigenous voters in states across the country, including swing states with large Native American populations like Arizona, said Judith LeBlanc, the group's executive director.
Even in deep-red Texas, which has seen an increase in the American Indian population over the past 10 years, the group Democracy is Indigenous DFW drew dozens to a meet-and-greet with candidates, including Democratic gubernatorial candidate . The goal of the nonpartisan group is to increase voter engagement in the American Indian and Indigenous population in Texas.
鈥淲e are doing a wholehearted voter registration campaign,鈥� LeBlanc said. 鈥淚 believe in Oklahoma we can make a difference.鈥�
___
Follow Sean Murphy at
___
Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at and on Twitter
Sean Murphy, The Associated Press
