Tulsa, Oklahoma — Oklahoma Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Gentner Drummond has filed a lawsuit in Osage County District Court against School Freedom Fund Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt, and unnamed parties tied to what the campaign describes as a “coordinated and malicious smear campaign built on outright lies.”
The lawsuit alleges the defendants knowingly aired false and defamatory claims through a statewide television advertisement intended to mislead Oklahoma voters ahead of the June 16 Republican primary. According to the filing, the attacks followed a fundraiser hosted by Governor Stitt at the Governor’s Mansion for out-of-state donors with the stated purpose of defeating Drummond.
Matthew Parker, Campaign Chairman for Drummond, said the lawsuit became necessary after repeated falsehoods were broadcast across Oklahoma.
“This was not tough politics. This was a calculated smear campaign built on fabricated claims and outright lies,” Parker said. “Kevin Stitt and his allies are so desperate to stop Gentner Drummond that they are willing to say anything, no matter how false or outrageous.”
The lawsuit challenges claims accusing Drummond of supporting transgender activism and misusing taxpayer dollars. The petition states Drummond “never directed, authorized, or gave” public funds to organizations that facilitate gender transition for minors and “never has supported” events such as “trans queen story time for Oklahoma kids.”
The filing also notes the funding referenced in the advertisement originated under a previous administration and that Drummond later revoked the organization’s certification.
Parker said the lawsuit exposes what the campaign believes was direct coordination between
Governor Stitt’s political operation and outside dark money groups.
“The timing speaks for itself,” Parker continued. “Governor Stitt publicly pushed this same false narrative while Stitt-linked dark money groups flooded the airwaves with dishonest attack ads.
Oklahoma voters are smart enough to see exactly what’s happening here.”
The lawsuit further alleges the advertisement used manipulated imagery and knowingly false statements to portray Drummond as supportive of transgender causes in an effort to damage his reputation with Republican voters.
“Oklahoma voters deserve truth, not desperate propaganda from political insiders and dark money groups,” Parker said. “Gentner Drummond has spent his career taking on cartels, corrupt actors, human traffickers, and powerful special interests. He’s not going to be intimidated by Kevin Stitt’s political machine.”
The lawsuit seeks actual damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and additional relief under Oklahoma law.