Stitt pushes for AI rules in political campaigns at National Governors conference
Gov. Kevin Stitt kicked off his last conference as chairman of the National Governors Association, ending his term by harking back to his continued message of bipartisanship amid an increasingly hostile political landscape rife with the use of artificial intelligence in elections.
The conference, which is taking place from July 30 to Aug. 1 in Oklahoma City, focused on a plethora of issues, including challenges surrounding AI in campaigning, an issue that has plagued Oklahomans throughout the gubernatorial election season. About 15 governors attended the NGA's summer meeting.
In a press conference Thursday, July 30, Stitt acknowledged the need for laws regulating the use of AI in campaigns and said he considered calling a special session to allow legislators to address this issue. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who serves as the vice chairman of the NGA and is a Democrat, said his state has laws preventing the use of AI in campaigns.
More: Why governors from across the U.S. are traveling to OKC
Breakfast session featuring panel discussion with Tami Pyfer, Co-Creator of the Dignity Box, Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, Marianne Viray, Exec. Director. Of Disagree Better and Ben Goldhirsh, Co-Founder and Chair of Matter Neuroscience at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Breakfast session featuring panel discussion with Tami Pyfer, Co-Creator of the Dignity Box, Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics International, Marianne Viray, Exec. Director. Of Disagree Better and Ben Goldhirsh, Co-Founder and Chair of Matter Neuroscience at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Attendees file into the main hall at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt speaks with Delaware Governor Matt Meyer at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt speaks with Delaware Governor Matt Meyer at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt greets attendees at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt greets attendees at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt greets attendees at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Mindy Millben sings the National Anthem at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Mindy Millben sings the National Anthem as the Oklahoma National Guard Honor Guard presents the Colors at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Mindy Millben sings the National Anthem at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Members of the Oklahoma National Guard Honor Guard gather outside the hall after presenting the colors at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Brandom Tatum, NGA CEO,t the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Brandom Tatum, NGA CEO,t the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt makes opening remarks at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt makes opening remarks at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt makes opening remarks at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt makes opening remarks at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt makes opening remarks at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt makes opening remarks at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker does the intro for the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker greets Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt for the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer take part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer take part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer take part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer take part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer take part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker moderates the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)NBC News Kristen Welker, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer after the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Colorado Governor Jared Polis takes part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Colorado Governor Jared Polis, left, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox take part of the show Common Ground with NBC News Kristen Welker at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Utah Governor Spencer Cox takes part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)Attendees watch a TV monitor as Utah Governor Spencer Cox takes part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026. (DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN)
Stitt said that 31 states have laws to address AI in campaigning.
"When I use an example, if you put, like, your political opponent on the beach with Jeffrey Epstein, in a situation, that's very damaging to someone, and people don't know what's right or what's wrong," Stitt said. "I think that's across the line, and so we need to have some kind of regulation around, especially in the political campaigns."
Moore said he's exploring appropriate laws regarding AI in other areas of government as well, from public safety to healthcare.
More broadly, Stitt's messaging remained consistent in calling for lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to work together and in his commitment to a free market.
Throughout his term as chairman of the NGA, Stitt has often called for bipartisan cooperation.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Delaware Governor Matt Meyer take part of the show Common Ground at the The National Governors Association summer meeting at the Omni in downtown Oklahoma City, Friday, July 31, 2026.
"This organization, it forces governors to come together from different backgrounds and different sides of the aisle to talk and collaborate," Stitt said during his opening speech. "That's why I love this organization, getting to know my fellow governors. It's this reason that the American dream is still alive and well in our great country."
Stitt advocated for people to get to know people who believe differently from them.
"It's hard to hate someone who you spend time with, who you break bread with," Stitt said.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Stitt pushes for AI rules in political campaigns at National Governors conference