Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate and former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall addressed OU’s recent handling of a grade dispute involving a student who received a zero on a Bible-based essay at an event with OU College Republicans in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Wednesday night.
McCall was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2012 and served for four years before being elected speaker of the house in 2016, becoming the longest serving speaker in state history.
McCall launched his run for governor in early 2024, campaigning in the republican primary with other top figures, including Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
In an interview with OU Daily following the event, McCall said that his financial experience sets him apart from other candidates, citing his time in the state house of representatives, where he said he was in charge of the state budget and tax policy.
“I’m the only one in this race that’s undefeated. I’ve never been beat,” McCall said. “I also was in charge of the budget, getting the economy turned around, the tax policy of the state – which is vastly improved – and creating the largest savings in state history.”
Despite running against figures with similar financial experience, McCall said he is the only candidate with enough experience to follow through on his campaign goals.
According to his website, McCall’s top priorities include eliminating the state income tax, expanding parental education rights, supporting law enforcement and the oil and gas industries. McCall has also been outspoken against the LGBTQIA+ community and in support of conservative policies that align with the Trump administration.
“I believe that I will be the choice to be effective on day one through the entire term,” McCall said. “I think I can get more big things done for the state of Oklahoma than anyone else.”
When asked about OU’s recent garnering of national attention for its handling of a grade dispute involving a student who received a zero on a Bible-based essay, McCall said he believes there should be no consequence for expressing faith views inside and outside of the classroom.
“As governor, I think people should have the right to express their religious views. … I’m happy to share my Christian faith with others, and I think others on this campus should be able to without retribution in the work that they submit, as well as the conversations that they have in the classroom or on the campus …,” McCall said. “There should be no retribution for somebody who submits work or free speech expressing their religious views.
Governor candidate Charles McCall addresses OU's Bible-based essay dispute during campus visit
McCall spoke to the group about education reform, his intention to lift Oklahoma’s education ranking and increase teacher pay. According to McCall, state legislators have made great progress in improving education in the state, but it is up to the executive branch to execute improvement plans.
“I truly believe the legislature’s done everything it needs to do. This is the executive branch getting its act together and focusing,” McCall said. “I don’t tolerate political theater. We need to get the political theater and political activism out of education."
McCall said that while he doesn’t blame Gov. Kevin Stitt entirely for the state’s education ranking, state governors are tasked with appointing the best state department of education.
“We don’t have a legislative branch of government problem when it comes to education,” McCall said. “We have an executive branch (problem). … The legislature makes the law and appropriates the money. The executive branch executes, they implement. That’s where the failure has been.”
This story was edited by Macey Thaxton and Madisson Cameron.
