Oklahoma’s gubernatorial race wasn’t expected to be especially competitive, but in recent months, it’s become one of the year’s biggest surprises. Incumbent Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt polling lead over Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma’s Democratic superintendent of public instruction, has evaporated, and the Republican Governors Association has reportedly become nervous enough about the race to start spending money in the state’s major media markets.

It was against this backdrop that the two rivals participated in a debate this week, and as The Washington Post reported, there was a major point of contention.

In a debate Wednesday night between Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) and his Democratic challenger, Joy Hofmeister, the governor took issue with Hofmeister pointing out — accurately — the state’s violent crime problem. “So let’s talk about facts: The fact is, the rates of violent crime are higher in Oklahoma under your watch than in New York or California,” said Hofmeister, who is Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction. “That’s a fact.”

To fully appreciate the GOP governor’s response, it’s worth watching the video excerpt from the event. Stitt didn’t just shake his head in disagreement, and didn’t just interrupt his challenger, he literally laughed and treated Hofmeister’s comments as if they were completely bonkers.

Link to tweet

,,,,,,Indeed, note that the Republican didn’t present alternative data. He instead asked people to rely on perceptions over reality.

A couple of years into his presidency, Donald Trump declared, “I have a gut, and my gut tells me more sometimes than anybody else’s brain can ever tell me.” Four years later, his party has adopted a similar posture when it comes to crime statistics.