Gov. Mary Fallin Kicks Off Re-Election Campaign

The state's first female governor began her re-election campaign Thursday during three stops across the state.

Governor Mary Fallin's first stop Thursday morning was at a Tulsa cafe. She met with supporters and told the group she believes in smaller government and will continue her administration's effort to create jobs and grow small businesses across Oklahoma.

In her remarks, Fallin highlighted Oklahoma's unemployment rate, which has dropped from 7 percent to 5.3 percent. 

During her next stop at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, Fallin said she's thankful she left Congress four years ago and ran for governor. She says Oklahoma is an example of how Washington should be.

"I saw firsthand the challenges and struggles that Washington D.C. faces. Whether it's partisan gridlock; whether it's the out of control spending; whether it is the creation of bigger government, more intrusion into our personal lives, I've seen that that doesn't work."

Fallin has reported she's raised about $550,000 during the second quarter this year and has more than $970,000 in her campaign fund at the end of June.

The only candidate to announce plans to run is Norman Democrat R.J. Harris, who previously ran for Congress as a Republican and as an independent.

Prior to being elected governor, Mary Fallin served as Lt. Governor from 1995 to 2007. From there she was elected to Congress representing the fifth district from 2007 to 2011.

After stopping in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, the governor also made a stop in Lawton.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.