ELECTED TO LEAD
Governor, other state officials to take oath of office
New leaders take control of Oklahoma government Monday during a midday ceremony to swear in the new governor and eight other statewide officials.
Kevin Stitt will become Oklahoma’s 28th governor and Matt Pinnell will be sworn in as lieutenant governor, both entering office for the first time.
Other newly elected state officials taking office include Auditor-elect Cindy Byrd, Labor Commissionerelect Leslie Osborn and Insurance Commissioner-elect Glen Mulready.
Current state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister and Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony, who both won reelection last year, will begin new terms.
Mike Hunter, who was appointed attorney general in 2017, won a full term last year. Randy McDaniel, who was elected treasurer for the first time in November, was sworn into office early this month to fill the last days of Ken Miller’s term. McDaniel will begin his full term Monday.
Every statewide official is a Republican. The terms are four years, except for corporation commissioners, whose full terms are six years.
“It’s extremely humbling but it’s also really exciting,” Pinnell said. “It’s been a long road and we are ready to get started.”
Monday’s ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on the south steps of the state Capitol. Attendance is free.
Stitt is expected to deliver his inaugural address about 12:05 p.m.
Donelle Harder, Stitt's spokeswoman who took the lead in writing the speech, said Stitt's address will lay out his vision for the state.
"I think there are three things you will hear in the inaugural address and those three things are pride, people and purpose," Harder said. "His goal is to remind us why we are proud to be the state we are today and why we can be proud of what's to come. He is going to cast purpose for this new administration and the mandates he was elected on that he has every intention to carry out. And he is going to remind us that we are all here for the people."
A public reception inside the Capitol will be after the inauguration ceremony.
On Monday night, an inaugural ball will be at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City. The event costs $250 per person.
On Tuesday, an inaugural prayer service will be at 9:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Moore.
The prayer service is free to attend but guests are asked to RSVP on Stitt's inaugural website.