Rogers out as Oklahoma’s secretary of state, Native American affairs

Oklahoma Secretary of State Michael Rogers announced his resignation Monday.

Rogers has also resigned his position as secretary of Native American affairs, a role Gov. Kevin Stitt assigned to him just last month.

A news release from the Stitt’s office said Rogers will transition into a new role as special adviser to the governor. No details of the new position were given.

In a statement, Rogers said he was incredibly proud of his work as secretary of state.

“Serving as the 35th Secretary of State has been a great honor,” Rogers said in a statement. “Our administration has worked tirelessly in the 21 months since we took office. We have dealt with a 100-year flood, a historic drop in oil and gas prices and now a global pandemic. I have worked relentlessly to support the governor and now it is time for me to hand the baton to someone else.”

Rogers also previously served as secretary of education until he resigned that position in August. At the time, Rogers said he wanted to focus solely on his role as secretary of state.

A month later, when Stitt appointed a new secretary of education, he also combined the roles of secretary of state and secretary of Native American affairs.

Stitt will get to appoint someone new to take over both roles.