OKLAHOMA CITY, OK— Governor Kevin Stitt, who spearheaded the “Disagree Better” campaign last year promoting civil discourse among lawmakers, found himself at the center of controversy Thursday following a pointed statement during a legislative session.
Before a vote to remove Allie Friesen, the now-former Commissioner of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Governor Stitt questioned whether Senator Rob Rosino was attempting to shield his wife from accountability for her involvement in the agency’s finance department.
“Is Senator Rosino trying to help his wife avoid responsibility for her role in the finance department there?” Stitt asked, drawing immediate backlash from lawmakers.
The governor’s remarks, coupled with an earlier video urging Oklahomans to scrutinize their elected officials closely, appear to have contributed to growing tensions in the Capitol, culminating in multiple veto overrides by the legislature.
When asked if he regretted his comment, Stitt acknowledged the misstep. “I did not use his wife’s name directly—I just said, ‘his wife’—and yes, I do regret that. I called and apologized to him and his wife. I let my emotions get the better of me, and I shouldn’t have done that,” he said.
Concerns have since been raised by some lawmakers about whether the governor’s emotions might influence his decisions on the approximately 20 bills still awaiting his signature.
In response, Stitt assured that personal feelings would not impact his judgment. “Not at all—we’ll do as a team like we always do. We’ll look at all these different bills and analyze them based on their merits, is it good for the taxpayers,” he said.
The incident highlights the challenges elected officials face in balancing passionate leadership with calls for respectful, constructive debate—a core message of the “Disagree Better” initiative.
