OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican Joel Kintsel, the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, announced Friday he will challenge Gov. Kevin Stitt in the race for governor.

During his announcement, Kintsel, a lieutenant colonel in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, accused Stitt's administration of being rife with cronyism and said that Oklahoma needs a governor with higher ethical standards.

A native of Oilton, Oklahoma, Kintsel served for 14 years as Oklahoma House parliamentarian under several different House speakers.

Kintsel joins fellow Republicans Mark Sherwood and M...