Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt endorsed a candidate for a state Senate seat in Edmond ahead of Tuesday's runoff election.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppStitt appeared alongside candidate Jenny Schmitt on Monday, endorsing the former health care worker in her runoff election against Army veteran Kelly Hines for Senate District 47. The move was a rare one for the governor in races like this, but he told KOCO 5 that the district is becoming less red and more purple. He said he wanted to put his support behind the person he thought had the best chance of winning the general election in November. "When you send me people like this that I can work with and that are going to think like we do, I know talent when I see it, and Jenny Schmitt is a talented person that’s going to represent this district very, very well," Stitt said. "She’s a nurse, a mother, and I want that at the state Capitol kind of helping advise us on health care policy, helping set healthcare policy." Both Schmitt and Hines finished the June primary election only a few hundred votes apart. "If you vote for me tomorrow, you’re going to have someone that will champion our community, someone that will care about your family and make sure our values are represented at the state Capitol," Schmitt said. Hines said he is not concerned about Stitt backing his opponent. "I didn’t pursue the endorsement of any sitting politicians. They don’t vote in this district. What I did do is go after endorsements that I thought were important, Fraternal Order of Police for Oklahoma State, Oklahoma City, Edmond, a lot of community groups," Hines said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.He insisted that he is the best pick for Senate District 47 and will ensure that the seat stays in Republican control. “Right now, the Republican Party is very splintered just among ourselves. We’ve got to stop doing that and come together if we’re going to move forward in Oklahoma and not lose this seat," Hines said. Whoever wins the general election will fill the seat left vacant by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, who reached his term limit. Polls across the state are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Top Headlines The early Labor Day deals at Walmart include price slashes on AirPods, air fryers and more Investigation opened into Cleveland County Detention Center inmate's death Ryan Walters to investigate after Edmond student says he wasn't allowed to fly American flag Vacant Oklahoma City hotel catches fire again, crews battle to put blaze out