Oklahoma Secretary of State, other top officials announce resignation

Four high-ranking Oklahoma officials have stepped down from their positions in the last few weeks, marking significant changes in state leadership.

The resignations include Secretary of State Josh Cockroft, Deputy Secretary of State Nitasha Rose, Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services Rick Rose, and Evan Brown, Executive Director of EDGE (Economic Development, Growth, & Expansion).

State officials confirmed their departures on Monday, saying they did not resign on the same day.

Governor Kevin Stitt announced Rick Rose's departure, saying his last day will be September 26, 2025.

“I’m grateful for Director Rose’s service to Oklahoma,” said Governor Stitt. “I appreciate his work to help modernize state government and make it work better for the people. I wish him the best as he transitions back to the private sector.”

Director Rose expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve. “It has been an honor to work alongside Governor Stitt, the other state agencies, and the team at OMES to deliver meaningful improvements for Oklahoma,” said Director Rose. “I am proud of the progress the OMES team achieved during my tenure. I truly appreciate the Governor’s leadership on reducing the size of government and making it work better for the people.”

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Cockroft, Oklahoma's 39th Secretary of State, tendered his resignation effective Oct. 2, 2025, with his last day in office set for Oct. 1.

Evan Brown submitted his resignation as Executive Director of Economic Development, Growth, and Expansion, with his last working day being Friday, October 3.

 It was not made clear who will fill the positions on an interim basis or when permanent replacements might be named.

Officials have not cited misconduct or controversy tied to the resignations.

The exits come as the state prepares for upcoming legislative and budget discussions.

The Secretary of State oversees elections and maintains official state records, attests to the governor's signature for legal documents, and manages business registrations and filings, helping ensure compliance with Oklahoma laws, according to the Oklahoma Secretary of State's website.

The Deputy Secretary of State supports those responsibilities, acting as a deputy in legislative, executive, and administrative matters.

The Director of OMES leads the statewide central service agency, handling finance, property, human resources, and IT for the state government, according to the official OMES page.