Oklahoma’s gubernatorial race wasn’t expected to be especially competitive, but in recent months, it’s become one of the year’s biggest surprises. Incumbent Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt's polling lead over Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma’s Democratic superintendent of public instruction, has evaporated, and the Republican Governors Association has reportedly become nervous enough about the race to start spending money in the state’s major media markets.
It was against this backdrop that the two rivals participated in a debate this week, and as The Washington Post reported, there was a major point of contention.
To fully appreciate the GOP governor’s response, it’s worth watching the video excerpt from the event. Stitt didn’t just shake his head in disagreement, and didn’t just interrupt his challenger, he literally laughed and treated Hofmeister’s comments as if they were completely bonkers.
“Oh my gosh. Hang on. Oklahomans, do you believe we have higher crime than New York or California?” the Republican asked incredulously. “That’s what she just said!”
What Hofmeister, herself a former Republican, had “just said” was true. As the Post’s report explained, “What was not shown at the debate was that Hofmeister was correct. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oklahoma has a homicide rate of 9 deaths per 100,000, compared with California’s rate of 6.1 and New York’s rate of 4.7.”
A related Post analysis added, “Data from the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer shows...
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