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Tribal leaders rebuff Oklahoma governor’s debate meeting invite

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Tribal leaders rebuff Oklahoma governor’s debate meeting invite


Throughout a Wednesday debate, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) made an informal invite for leaders of the state’s 39 tribes to fulfill with him on Thursday.

In the end, he was stood up, in keeping with Secretary of State and Native American Affairs Brian Bingman.

Media crews gathered on the state Capitol on Thursday in anticipation that Stitt and tribal leaders may come collectively for a ten a.m. assembly after a debate moderator requested Stitt on Wednesday when he would meet tribal leaders to “rebuild your administration’s strained relationship with tribes and tribal residents?”

Bingman informed a reporter that Stitt was in his workplace however “no one confirmed up,” in keeping with a recorded dialog supplied to the Washington Examiner by a spokesperson for the governor.

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Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, proper, listens as Democratic challenger Pleasure Hofmeister speaks throughout a debate.

Sarah Phipps/AP

FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM OKLAHOMA GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE BETWEEN KEVIN STITT AND JOY HOFMEISTER

Stitt was talking at an occasion earlier within the morning on the College of Oklahoma, roughly 23 miles away from the state Capitol. His spokeswoman says she was with the governor in his workplace at 9:53 a.m. The college didn’t reply to a request for remark.

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An individual who spoke on the occasion immediately earlier than Stitt, retired Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, informed the Washington Examiner on Thursday night that the governor “left across the schedule time from the room I used to be in” however famous he wasn’t “conscious of when he really left the ability.” A replica of the schedule reveals that Stitt was slated to be completed talking by 9:20 a.m., and the governor’s spokeswoman contends Stitt “walked out at 9:25.”

The no-show by tribal leaders on the state Capitol underscores the wilting relationship between the governor and the tribes at a time when a number of polls present a decent race between him and his Republican-turned-Democrat opponent Pleasure Hofmeister, the state’s superintendent of public instruction who modified events final October to run in opposition to the incumbent. Hofmeister is endorsed collectively by the leaders of the 5 strongest tribes within the state.

A reporter on the state Capitol requested Bingman if it was “affordable” for the governor to offer the tribal leaders lower than 24 hours discover, however Bingman mentioned that the governor was “simply responding to a query from the talk,” including that Stitt is keen to fulfill with them at any time.

Following the talk Wednesday night time, Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. rebuked Stitt for suggesting he might “command” tribal leaders to return to a gathering by an invite through the debate.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr.
FILE – Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin, Jr. speaks Dec. 3, 2021, in Tahlequah, Okla. A U.S. Supreme Courtroom ruling increasing state authority to prosecute some crimes on Native American land is upending a long time of legislation in help of tribal sovereignty. (AP Photograph/Michael Woods, File)

Michael Woods/AP

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“There was no invitation to fulfill with Gov. Stitt and there’s no assembly scheduled,” Hoskin informed the Washington Examiner. “The truth that Gov. Stitt thinks he can command tribal leaders to his workplace by merely declaring on stay tv speaks volumes of why he has been a failure at state, tribal relations.”

Stitt, who can be a member of the Cherokee Nation, has mentioned he has an “open door coverage,” however has not had a gathering with leaders of the 5 largest tribes within the state since February 2021, in keeping with the Oklahoman. It isn’t instantly clear whether or not leaders from the state’s 5 largest tribes — Cherokee, Chickasaw, Muscogee, Choctaw, and Seminole nations — have made concrete plans to fulfill with the governor since 2021.

Stitt and the tribal leaders have seen their relationship dwindle over the governor’s opposition to the Supreme Courtroom’s 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma determination, which voided the state’s prison jurisdiction to prosecute crimes dedicated by Native residents in opposition to different Native residents whereas additionally legally designating over 40% of Oklahoma’s state territory as “Indian Nation.”

The cities of Tulsa and Owasso, two cities with territory that overlaps with Indian Nation, filed a quick to the Supreme Courtroom in October final yr claiming the McGirt ruling lowered Native American crime victims to a “second-class standing.”

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“The tragic consequence is that some crimes are going unprosecuted, with a major share dedicated by non-Indians in opposition to Indians,” the cities wrote of their temporary. The excessive courtroom finally opted in opposition to overturning McGirt however took up an analogous case this spring.

In that case, Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta, the Supreme Courtroom dominated that Oklahoma has concurrent jurisdiction and might prosecute non-Natives once they commit crimes in opposition to Native individuals inside reservation boundaries.

Tribal leaders noticed the summer time ruling as a reversal of the precedent underneath McGirt and expressed disappointment over the excessive courtroom determination.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“We’re extraordinarily upset on this ruling, partially as a result of it seems to depend on defective data supplied by the opposition,” Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton mentioned following the June determination.

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“In fact, we respect the authority of the Supreme Courtroom, and we are going to combine this into our continued efforts to supply efficient prison justice in our reservation as we work with legislation enforcement companies on the federal, state, native, and tribal stage,” Batton added.





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Oklahoma

Tide Pod: Alabama prepares for road matchup against Oklahoma

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Tide Pod: Alabama prepares for road matchup against Oklahoma


Jack and Tony preview Alabama’s first game against Oklahoma in Norman since 2002. The show starts with a discussion on how Alabama is handling the “Rat Poison” and preparing for another challenging road environment. Jack and Tony give their keys to the game, including a turnover-happy Sooners team, Jackson Arnold’s threat at QB and how Alabama will test OU’s strong defense. Tony gives his take on the Tide’s No. 7 College Football Playoff ranking, chances at reaching the SEC Championship game and more. The show finishes with predictions and Week 13 CFP picks.



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Oklahoma races to victory over East Texas A&M, stays unbeaten ahead of Battle 4 Atlantis

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Oklahoma races to victory over East Texas A&M, stays unbeaten ahead of Battle 4 Atlantis


NORMAN, Okla. — Freshman Jeremiah Fears finished with 20 points, Duke Miles scored 19 and Oklahoma cruised to an 84-56 victory over East Texas A&M on Thursday night.

Fears used 7-for-10 shooting to turn in his best scoring effort thus far for the Sooners (4-0). He was 1 for 4 from 3-point range and 5 of 6 at the free-throw line, adding five assists and four rebounds. Miles hit 7 of 13 shots with three 3-pointers.

Glenn Taylor Jr. came off the bench to sink four 3-pointers and scored 16 for Oklahoma.

Scooter Williams Jr., Josh Taylor and reserve TJ Thomas all scored nine to pace the Lions (1-5).

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Miles had 14 points in the first half and Fears scored 11 to guide the Sooners to a 38-33 lead at intermission.

Taylor buried all four of his shots from distance and scored 14 in the second half to help Oklahoma double up East Texas A&M 46-23 after the break.

The Sooners shot 47.5% overall and made 10 of 32 from beyond the arc (31.3%). The went 18 for 22 at the foul line.

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The Lions shot 37.7% from the floor, hit 7 of 32 from distance (21.9%) and 9 of 17 foul shots.

Oklahoma heads to the Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis, playing three games in three days. The Sooners open the event on Wednesday against Providence.

    Denton Guyer four-star quarterback Kevin Sperry flips from Oklahoma to Florida State
    No. 7 Alabama looks to strengthen case for College Football Playoff spot vs. Oklahoma

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.



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Oklahoma open primary proposal gets mixed reaction • Oklahoma Voice

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Oklahoma open primary proposal gets mixed reaction • Oklahoma Voice


OKLAHOMA CITY – A proposal to open Oklahoma primaries is drawing criticism.

Earlier this week, supporters announced State Question 835 that seeks to obtain 172,993 signatures to get the issue on the November 2026 ballot.

Under the proposal, Oklahoma primaries would be open to all voters with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election.

Supporters said they expect a challenge to the measure.

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Gov. Kevin Stitt on social media voiced his opposition.

“Oklahomans made decisions at the polls that these third party groups don’t like – so now they want to upend the way we run our elections,” Stitt said. “Open primaries are a hard no in Oklahoma.”

Likewise, Lt. Gov Matt Pinnell, former Oklahoma Republican Party chairman, opposes the proposal.

“At best, the push to mandate open primaries is a solution in search of a problem, and at worst, it is a thinly veiled attempt to weaken Republican voters in choosing the nominees to represent our party,” Pinnell said. “Oklahoma is a conservative state, and Republicans hold all the statewide and federally elected positions and super majorities in the Legislature for a simple reason: our values and principles represent the will of our state voters.”

But not all Republicans have panned the idea.

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Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, embraced it.

He said the system in which a mayor is elected allows all residents to vote.

“Our voters get to see all the candidates and our candidates have to face all voters,” Holt said. “As a result, our leadership delivers unity and consensus outcomes that are clearly moving us forward.”

The state question is being backed by Oklahoma United, a nonpartisan organization that says the change will increase voter participation, reduce polarization and force candidates to be responsive to all voters. It will also benefit independent voters, who can’t vote in Republican or Libertarian primaries. Democrats currently allow independents to vote in their primaries.

The idea is not new.

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In 2017, the Oklahoma Academy recommended a top-two election system. Its report said a top-two system could increase turnout, reduce partisanship and “eliminate fringe special interest involvement in campaigns because candidates would be forced to respond to more moderate, general voters rather than play to the extremes of either party.”

The Oklahoma Academy is a nonpartisan group that works to educate Oklahomans about public policy.

Republican political consultant Fount Holland said he doubted Oklahoma voters would approve the proposal should it make the ballot.

“At the end of the day, it is about moderating the Republican primary,” Holland said.

He said the Republican Party takes things to the extreme, which is not the best way to govern.

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Holland said no one enters the Republican primary as a moderate or very few can survive campaigning as a moderate.

“They might be moderate, but they don’t campaign that way,” Holland said.

He said he tells his clients to run to win.

If approved, the measure would be advantageous to Democrats or people who want a more moderate group of elected officials, Holland said.

Republican Superintendent Ryan Walters is considered by many to be ultra-conservative, while his predecessor Joy Hofmeister was considered a moderate member of the GOP, said Holland, who worked on her two successful races for superintendent. 

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Walters has focussed on putting Bibles in the classroom and removing some books from schools, while Hofmeister prioritized across-the-board teacher pay increases and boosting counseling services in schools.

Hofmeister ultimately switched parties and made an unsuccessful run as a Democrat for governor.

“If you hate politics the way they are, then you need to be on our team, because we want to change it and we want to make it better,” said Margaret Kobos, Oklahoma United CEO and Founder.

She was asked about the partisan reaction to the proposal.

She said it misses the point because the issue is about people and not political parties.

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Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, supports the measure, saying it takes power away from the political parties and gives it to the people.

“Every voter. Every election,” he said. “That is the way democracy is supposed to work.”

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