McGirt V. Oklahoma – Attorney General Mike Hunter

Mike Hunter was elected as Oklahoma’s eighteenth attorney general on November 6, 2018.

As attorney general, he has made the safety and security of all Oklahomans one of his top priorities.

Determined to end the state’s opioid overdose and addiction epidemic, his office has taken a multidisciplinary approach to solving the problem.

Shortly after taking office, he formed the Oklahoma Commission on Opioid Abuse. The commission brought all stakeholders to the table and saw seven pieces of legislation become law in 2018. The laws give more tools to law enforcement personnel, prevents the diversion of opioid prescriptions from flooding the market and holds distributors, manufacturers and businesses accountable through proper oversight.

Through the consumer protection unit, Hunter’s office has successfully prosecuted scam artists, shutting down their illicit enterprises.

At the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Hunter’s office represents rate payers and ensures Oklahomans aren’t paying more than what is necessary for utility services. Since he has been in office, his team has secured several settlement agreements with electric companies that have returned money to ratepayers or have held them harmless.

Hunter also continues upholding the values most important to Oklahomans by defending First Amendment rights and protecting religious liberties.

Whether it was when a Washington, D.C. based special interest demanded East Central University remove a cross from the campus chapel. Hunter drew a hard line – rejecting the demands to remove the cross and religious materials, saying the state has no desire to negotiate with the group in the matter. Since his office stepped in, the state has yet to hear back from the group.

Or, more recently, when he provided clarity on the state’s Religious Freedom Act to a school board, which ultimately allowed Cherokee students to engage in the spiritual practice of wearing eagle feathers to their graduation ceremonies.

Hunter consistently advocates for and remains committed to defending industries vital to the state’s economy and is unapologetic and uncompromising when pushing back on burdensome overreach and unnecessary regulations.

Hunter stood up for the rights of the state’s property owners by pushing back on the illegal WOTUS rule. A move where The Oklahoman’s editorial board gave Hunter credit for his swift response.

On the federal level, Hunter worked as chief of staff to former Congressman J.C. Watts. He also worked as legal Counsel to Watts during his time on the National Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees in Congress.

In the private sector, Hunter began his career focusing on energy and real estate law. He also worked as chief operating officer of the American Bankers Association, in Washington, D.C., which represents banks of all sizes and is the champion for the nation’s $13 trillion banking industry and its 2 million employees.

Hunter received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University, making him the state’s first attorney general to receive an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State.

He grew up on a family farm in Garfield County, south of Enid, where he graduated from Pioneer High School.

He has been married to his wife Cheryl for 38 years. They have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law, Barrett, his wife Rachael and Brock.

Chair of the Day

Chip Carter is the President & CEO of Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School, a rigorous college preparatory high school for families of limited economic means.  Now in its third year with 230 students in the 9^th, 10^th , and 11^th grades, Cristo Rey OKC integrates a Corporate Work Study Program with local business that prepares graduates to succeed in college and in life.  It is the 33^rd school in a national network of 37 schools and is currently located on the campus of OSU-OKC.

Chip has had a varied professional career spanning multiple industries over the past 25-plus years.  A veteran of dozens of political campaigns, Chip served on Steve Forbes’ 1996 presidential campaign and was the campaign manager for Oklahoma’s successful Right to Work campaign in 2001.  He later moved into real estate development and focused on the aerospace industry.  Chip led investor relations for an Oklahoma City based hedge fund and served as vice president at a local public relations and public affairs agency.

Chip is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, a member of the Economic Club of Oklahoma, a member of the Board of Advisors for both the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and the South Oklahoma City Chamber, and is a past President of the Downtown Club of Oklahoma City.  He earned his BA in Philosophy from Kenyon College in 1991.

Chip is married to Lori Carter, Deputy Attorney General, and they have a son in college and two daughters in high school. He is active at Christ the King Catholic Church and he enjoys watching his children play sports, going pheasant hunting, and discussing politics.