SNAP crisis -- The Cherokee nation sees the urgency, but not the state William C. Wertz

Although Gov. Kevin Stitt likes to talk about making Oklahoma a "top 10" state, little progress has been made toward raising Oklahoma's poverty ranking.

According to 2024 U.S. Census Bureau figures , Oklahoma ranks as the 8th poorest state in the nation. One out of every seven Oklahoma residents lives in poverty — one out of every five children.