Hofmeister, Stitt advance in Oklahoma governor’s race

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has won the GOP primary in his race for a second term as governor in deep-red Oklahoma.

Stitt’s victory on Tuesday sets up a showdown with State Superintendent of Public Education Joy Hofmeister, a lifelong Republican who switched parties to run against Stitt as a Democrat.

Stitt defeated ex-Tulsa police officer Mark Sherwood, Joel Kintsel, the head of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, and Moira McCabe of Oklahoma City.

Hofmeister defeated longtime Democratic Party activist and former state Sen. Connie Johnson.

Independent Ervin Yen, an Oklahoma City anesthesiologist and former Republican state senator, and Libertarian Natalie Bruno of Edmond also will be on the November ballot.