Mike Hunter is an Oklahoman, born and raised. Born in Enid, Oklahoma, he grew up tending his family’s farm in Garfield County. He earned his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University in 1978 and went on to graduate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1982.

Hunter was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1984, where he was a key figure in the Republican Caucus and served on the House Criminal Justice Committee. His commitment to Oklahoma continued as he served as secretary of state under Govs. Frank Keating and Mary Fallin and made significant contributions as the attorney general from 2017 to 2021.

As attorney general, Hunter was instrumental in addressing the opioid crisis, launching groundbreaking lawsuits against major pharmaceutical companies. His efforts led to significant settlements, including a landmark $270 million settlement with Purdue Pharma that provided $177 million in funding to the Oklahoma State University Health Sciences addiction science program.