Gov. Stitt’s Final State of the State: Fact-Checking the Claims

Oklahoma Governor’s Final State Address Faces Fact-Check Scrutiny

Governor Kevin Stitt delivered his final State of the State address Monday, making several claims about Oklahoma’s fiscal health, Medicaid spending, and marijuana industry challenges that required careful verification. A detailed fact-check by The Frontier revealed mixed results regarding the accuracy of the governor’s statements.

In his address, Stitt incorrectly attributed a quote to Ronald Reagan, saying, “Like Ronald Reagan said, you eventually run out of other people’s money.” This statement was rated mostly false, as there’s no record of Reagan making this statement. The quote closely resembles one from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who in a 1975 Conservative Party Conference speech referred to the “usual Socialist disease — they’ve run out of other people’s money.”

Stitt’s claim that Oklahoma had “no money in reserve” when he took office in 2019 was also rated mostly false. State records show Oklahoma actually had $451 million in its Rainy Day Fund at that time, according to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. While it’s true the state has significantly increased its savings to approximately $4.3 billion since Stitt took office, his characterization of starting from zero was inaccurate.

On Medicaid spending, the governor’s assertion that the program would consume 37% of the state’s annual budget within a decade received a mixed rating. While health care experts do anticipate rising Medicaid costs nationwide—particularly after federal funding cuts included in last summer’s Congressional legislation—the Oklahoma Health Care Authority hasn’t calculated official projections for the next decade. Stitt’s office indicated the $6 billion figure came from internal calculations based on current budget trends.

The governor’s controversial statements about Oklahoma’s marijuana industry received varying assessments. His claim that dispensaries “hide an industry that enables cartel activity, human trafficking, and foreign influence” was rated mixed. While investigations have confirmed organized crime networks operate illegal marijuana farms in Oklahoma, with documented cases of human trafficking and foreign national involvement, evidence linking licensed dispensaries to these activities remains limited.

However, Stitt’s assertion that the state’s illegal marijuana industry remains “out of control” and “nearly impossible to rein in” was rated true. Despite previous claims of success in cracking down on illegal operations, recent congressional testimony revealed the estimated value of marijuana trafficked out of Oklahoma exceeded $150 billion in 2025, and former DEA officials have stated the industry remains far from under control.

The governor’s economic claim about rising incomes was rated “true but misleading.” While Oklahoma’s median household income did increase by approximately $11,000 during Stitt’s tenure, this growth still lagged behind the national average. Oklahoma currently ranks 46th in median household income nationally, and a recent United Way report found nearly half of Oklahoma households struggle to afford basic necessities despite income growth.

As Stitt enters his final year in office, these fact-checks provide important context to his administration’s accomplishments and remaining challenges. The varied accuracy of his statements highlights the complex realities facing Oklahoma’s economy, healthcare system, and ongoing struggle with illegal marijuana cultivation.